President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan wave after touring the plane that served as Air Force One for President Ronald Reagan and six other Presidents from 1973-1990 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Friday, Oct. 21, 2005
The History of Air Force One
Humble Beginnings
Presidential international travel first occurred during the 20th century. The first six presidents to travel went by ship. President Woodrow Wilson spent almost 7 months in Europe at the Aftermath of World War I. The first four presidential trips by airplane were the four WWII conferences: Casablanca, Tehran, Yalta (FDR attended during the war), and Potsdam (Truman attended after the war).
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first to travel by jet and the first to travel via helicopter. At the end of his term went on several good will missions and he was the first to travel to Asia. President John F. Kennedy had one of the most memorable trips to Europe as his final trip before he was assassinated. His successor, President Johnson preferred travel to Asia. President Nixon set a number of firsts, in particular China. President Carter spent a lot of time in the Middle East and went on the first state visit to Africa. Ronald Reagan seemed to perfect the state visit, and of course was known for his summits with Gorbachev.
"AIR FORCE ONE: THE PLANES AND THE PRESIDENTS" (1991)
Upgrade to the 747s
International travel by a sitting President or a President elect has increased dramatically since George H. W. Bush became president in 1989. In 1990 the military version of the Boeing 747, the VC-25, was introduced for the use of the president. The planes have over 4,000 square feet (372 m2) of floor space, a bedroom and a shower, and enough secure communications to allow the plane to be a reasonable place to run the country. The plane is accompanied by a heavy lift aircraft that carries the helicopters and the limousines.
Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have individually visited 74 different countries. Together they went to 94 different countries with a combined population of 85% of the world total. Presidential visits of over 10,000 miles (16,093 km) are common. Round the world trips were first done by Johnson and Nixon, have both been done by presidents Bush and Clinton. Trips to Europe are almost routine.
Though Ronald Reagan's two terms as president saw no major changes to Air Force One, the fabrication of the current 747s began during his presidency. Reagan ordered two identical Boeing 747s to replace the aging 707 that he used for transport. The interior designs were drawn up by First Lady Nancy Reagan, who used designs reminiscent of the American Southwest. The first aircraft was delivered in 1990, during the administration of George H. W. Bush. Delays were experienced to allow for additional work to protect the aircraft from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects.
Today's Air Force One is equipped with both secure and unsecure phone and wireless computer communications systems, enabling the president and staff to perform duties while in the air in the event of an attack on the United States.
A Mobile Command Center
One of the most dramatic episodes aboard Air Force One happened during the September 11 attacks. President George W. Bush was interrupted at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, after the attack on the World Trade Center South Tower in New York City. He flew on Air Force One from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and then to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska before returning to Washington. The next day, officials at the White House and the Justice Department explained that President Bush did this because there was "specific and credible information that the White House and Air Force One were also intended targets." The White House later could not confirm evidence of a threat made against Air Force One, and subsequent investigation found the original claim to be a result of miscommunication.
One of the most significant improvements made in Air Force One's communication capabilities was the installation of secure video teleconferencing hardware in both the onboard Conference Room and the President's Office. This was done because prior to the installation, the President had no way to confer with military leaders and other White House aides in a state of emergency, without giving away the aircraft's location while the conference is taking place.