Air Force One

Believe those are operated out of Offut in Omaha rather than the 89th.

 

Been to the museum in CA at the Reagan library - a very cool thing to see if you're ever in the area.

Had the opportunity to fly on 28000 and 29000 - they even took up to the cockpit for landing on my last leg. A very cool experience. Flew the C-40 (BBJ) a few times as well - also a very nice way to travel.

 

TCar got it-- he was trying to promote saving energy. Of course, the 707 went empty (or carrying a bunch of press and staff, but whatever) to get him and bring him back, so no actual energy was saved in the creation of the photo op.

Sadly, I couldn't find any photos of the event on the web-- I can't imagine that he didn't get the whole thing on film, but I couldn't find anything.

 

Wow. So these are actually separate aircraft from the regular AF1 747s? I never knew that. I just figured the POTUS would fly around in AF1 in a legit SHTF scenario. How are the doomsday planes different? Do they use them for anything else while we they waiting on armageddon?

 

The doomsday aircraft (E4B) used to be at Andrews parked behind the row of trees. They couldn't get approval to replace the 707s because they were afraid of the political fallout that Sen. Proxmire would make but they did get these 2 747s.

They were not part of the regular presidential fleet and do not have that paint scheme. They are equipped as Command Post to conduct a nuclear war while airborne with full communication ability including submerged subs. In-flight refuelling too. Apparently made even the old 707s look palatial inside because they were so filled with all the work stations for the military.

They have been used a few times publicly for POTUS travel for photo ops but there is not all the seating for press, guests and others of the normal entourage.

Jeff

 

SecDef uses them regularly. I have not been in them but they are apparently quite nice. There is press seating in the rear so far as I understand.

 

I'm on business at Wright-Pat AFB today. I spent some of my down time viewing a number of retired Air Force Ones that are part of the USAF museum collection. If anyone has a chance to get a base pass, spend some time in the presidential/research hangers - neat stuff!

Regards,

Art S.

 

If it was United it was most likely a DC8 as they bought zero 707's. They had 720's but were all retired by 1972 and sent to Denver for storage.

Here are two Air Force 1 aircraft. 28000 was flown to the NATO summit in Chicago and 90003 was flown down to Missouri.
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Ask about the ULF antenna and how long it takes to cycle in and out.

Jeff

 

You misunderstand. The United flight had whoever it had. I meant that the Air Force 707 that was normally used went empty on the same route to pick Nixon up and bring him home.