General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoes every president get a new Airforce One?
Media keeps talking about Raygun's special Airforce One, permanently lodged in his museum. For some reason I always assumed that the airplane was surrendered, along with the White House, after presidents left office.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Now and then you hear of a new plane, but not in conjunction with a change of president. Maybe Reagans bought his plane. I have been amazed to read about recent presidents recreating their Oval offices in their museums.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Ego is everything with these people.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Air Force One is, as its nickname says, an Air Force aircraft. When they're retired, they get sent off to a scrapyard, such as the "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where they're stored, and possibly salvaged, OR they get designated for museum status. There's lots of museums with old Air Force aircraft at them, so there's actually quite the demand for old birds. I imagine that's what happened - the group putting Reagan's Presidential Library contacted the Air Force people in charge of turning old planes into museum planes, and told them they want the old Air Force One.
GP6971
(31,170 posts)Remember all the trash talk when W took office about how the Clintons trashed and stole things from AF1?
The current Air Force One jets (there are two) were built during the Reagan administration. They replaced the 707-based Air Force Ones that Reagan used.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One
The one at the Reagan library started under Nixon, and was replaced during the HW Bush administration.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)How did Raygun get his very own Airforce One?
jeff47
(26,549 posts)The plane at his library started under Nixon, and was replaced with the current, 747-based Air Force Ones during the HW Bush administration.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Seems pretty biased toward that scum bag.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)For example, the first 707-based plane is in an Air Force museum. It was the plane that did things like fly JFK to Berlin, and fly him back from Dallas.
Not much happened on the plane in the Reagan library. It would be scrap if the Reagan library didn't want it.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)HubertHeaver
(2,522 posts)bluedigger
(17,086 posts)That plane was retired and decommissioned after Bush I's presidency.
After announcing his intention to resign the presidency, Nixon boarded SAM 27000 to travel to California. Colonel Ralph Albertazzie, then pilot of Air Force One, recounted that after Gerald Ford was sworn in as president, the plane had to be redesignated as SAM 27000, indicating no president was on board the aircraft. Over Jefferson City, Missouri, Albertazzie radioed: "'Kansas City, this was Air Force One. Will you change our call sign to SAM 27000?' Back came the reply: 'Roger, SAM 27000. Good luck to the President.'"[27]
SAM 27000's last flight as Air Force One was on 29 August 2001 when it flew President George W. Bush from San Antonio to Waco, Texas. Following the flight it was formally decommissioned, then flown to San Bernardino International Airport (former Norton AFB) in California. It was later dismantled and taken to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, where it was reassembled and is on permanent display. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)it happens to be that when Reagan left the fleet was up for renewal. It has none to do with the POTUs, but avionics and communications.
Hell, right now they are discussing, finally, replacing the aging fleet of Marine 1 helicopters. So I suppose Obama could take one to the library when they do. The rest will either go back to the fleet or the boneyard.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)But that effort is just starting the bidding process.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I give better odds on the latter due to timing.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)I really doubt a new AF-1 would be in service before 2020. The only remaining bidder (Boeing) hasn't even decided which airframe to use for its bid (747 or 787).
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Due to future avionics and upgrades.
Bush used the Reagan bird and it ended at Reagans since they requested it first. They could have requested it too. It's a fleet, but that would break the illusion.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)YabaDabaNoDinoNo
(460 posts)Kotya
(235 posts)When GWB landed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the S-3 Viking he arrived in was Navy One. Helicopters, operated by the Marines are Marine One.
But yes, the designation " service branch) One" is whatever aircraft the President is currently flying in.