Air Force One

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Over the years, a variety of airplanes have served as presidential transports including a Lockheed Constellation, Lockheed Super Constellation, Boeing 707s, and Boeing 747s.

Lockheed C-121A Constellation 48-0610 Columbine II, c/n 2602

C-121A 48-0610 in a storage yard adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB on December 19, 1984. Its Lockheed construction number is 2602. It was delivered to the Air Force in November 1948. It was bailed to Lockheed Air Service from January 1949 to November 1949. It was flown to Lockheed at Burbank for conversion to VC-121A in November 1949. It was assigned to 1254 ATS(SM) at Washington National Airport in February 1950. It was named Columbine II when it served as President Eisenhower's personal transport from November 1952 to November 1954. It was replaced as the presidential tranwsport by VC-121E 53-7885 Columbine III in November 1954 and served as backup presidential transport until May 1955. The Air Force leased it to Pan Am in May 1955. Pan Am first registered it as N9907F and then N9907E. It was transferred for a very short period of time to the government of Thailand, and Pan Am returned it to the Air Force in June 1955. It was retired by the Air Force in April 1968. It was bought by Christier Flying Service Inc. in May 1970 and registered N9463. It was restored to airworthy condition using parts from N608AS in 1989-1990. It made its first flight after restoration on April 5, 1990. It is currently registered to Columine II Incorporated. The airplane was parked at Santa Fe for several years after it returned from the Vintage Aircraft and Warbird Auction held in Scottsdale in 1998. The reserve price was not met.

C-121A 48-0610 N9463 at the Marana Regional Airport in Arizona on September 26, 2005. It was flown from Santa Fe to Marana Regional on May 4, 2003. It is for sale.

It is possible that this Constellation may fly again if a buyer can be found.

Lockheed VC-121E Super Constellation 53-7885 Columbine III, c/n 4151

VC-121E 53-7885 Columbine III at the Air Force Museum on August 19, 1972. Its Lockheed construction number is 4151. It was ordered by the US Navy as R7V-1 BuN 131650, but it was completed for the Air Force as VC-121E 53-7885. It was delivered to the Air Force in September 1954 as Columbine III. It was replaced as the presidential transport by a VC-137A in January 1961.It was retired from Air Force service in April 1966 and was transferred to the Air Force Museum on April 20, 1966.

VC-121E 53-7885 Columbine III at the Air Force Museum on August 16, 1998. It has been restored to its appearance from when it served as Eisenhower's presidential transport.

VC-121E 53-7885 Columbine III at the Air Force Museum on August 16, 1998.

Link to the Air Force Museum's fact sheet about VC-121E 53-7885 Columbine III.

Boeing VC-137B Stratoliner

Three VC-137As, Boeing model 707-153 with Pratt and Whitney JT-3 turbojets, were acquired by the Air Force to serve as presidential transports. They were redesignated VC-137B when they were refitted with JT3D turbofan jet engines.

VC-137B 58-6972 at Rhein-Mein Air Force Base on June 21, 1989. It carries Boeing construction number 17927. It first flew on June 13, 1959 and was delivered to the Air Force on June 30, 1959. It was converted to VC-137B in May 1963. It was scrapped in 1996 due to severe corrosion.

VC-137B 58-6971 at the Pima Air Museum on Setpember 26, 2005. It Boeing construction number 17926. It first flew on May 12, 1959 and was delivered to the Air Force on May 31, 1959. It was redesignated VC-137B when it was refitted with JT3D turbofan jet engines in April 1963. It was retired to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on October 8, 1998. It has been displayed at the Pima Air Museum since October 1999.

VC-137B 58-6971 at the Pima Air Museum on Setpember 26, 2005.

Boeing VC-137C Stratoliner

VC-137C 72-7000 on approach to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on May 10, 1974 for a visit by Richard Nixon. It was one of two 707-353Bs used by the Air Force to transport the president. It carries Boeing construction number 20630. It first flew on July 31, 1972 and was delivered to the Air Force on August 9, 1972. It made its last flight as Air Force One carrying George W. Bush on August 29, 2001.

Boeing VC-137C Stratoliner 72-7000, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, May 10, 1974: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 11" x 16".

VC-137C 62-6000 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on May 11, 1974. An American Airlines 707-323 rotates for take-off in the background.

VC-137C, 62-6000 carries Boeing construction number 18461. It made its first flight on August 10, 1962 and was delivered to the Air Force on October 9, 1962. It is now on display at the National Museum of the Air Force Presidential Aircraft Hangar.

Link to Museum of the Air Force fact sheet about VC-137C 62-6000

VC-137C 72-7000 on approach to Los Angeles International Airport on January 20, 1989 for a visit by Ronald Reagan. It is now on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Boeing VC-137C Stratoliner 72-7000, Los Angeles International Airport, January 20, 1989: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 11" x 16".

Boeing VC-25A

December 30, 2006: VC-25A 92-9000 Departs from Palm Springs with President Ford

Boeing VC-25A 92-9000 carried the body of former President Gerald Ford from Palm Springs to Andrews Air Force Base on Saturday, December 30, 2006.

The VC-25A took off from Runway 13 at 10:18 AM PST.

VC-25A 92-9000 was originally assigned Air Forcce serial 86-8900, but it was reserialed to continue the sequence of presidential transport serials: 62-6000, 72-7000... Its construction number is 23824. It first flew as N1788B on May 16, 1987. It was delivered to the Air Force on August 23, 1990.

January 25, 2012: VC-25A 82-8000 brings President Obama to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 82-8000 carried President Barack Obama to the Valley of the Sun on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The President gave a speech at the Intel plant in Chandler.

Air Force One landed on Runway 30 Right at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport at 3:17 PM.

VC-25A 82-8000 was originally assigned Air Forcce serial 86-8800, but it was reserialed to continue the sequence of presidential transport serials: 62-6000, 72-7000... Its construction number is 23825. It first flew as N60659 on October 29, 1987. It was delivered to the Air Force on December 20, 1990.

Boeing VC-25A 82-8000 Air Force One Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport January 25 2012: This photo is available as prints as large as 24 inches by 36 inches.

August 6, 2013: VC-25A 92-9000 brings President Obama to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000 carried President Barack Obama to the Valley of the Sun on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. The President delivered remarks at the Desert Vista High School.

Spectators gathered on the top level of the Terminal 4 parking structure.

Air Force One Phoenix August 6 2013: Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000 carried President Barack Obama to the Valley of the Sun on Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

Air Force One took President Obama to Los Angeles where he taped an appearance oin The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

January 8, 2015: VC-25A 92-9000 brings President Obama to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000 carried President Barack Obama to the Valley of the Sun on Wednesday, January 7, 2015. The President delivered remarks at Central High School and departed from Sky Harbor at noon on January 8.

Air Force One Boeing Vc-25a 92-9000 Phoenix Sky Harbor January 7 2015: You can purchase prints of this photo as large as 16 inches by 24 inches.

A news helicopter shot video of the departure of Air Force One.

March 13, 2015: VC-25A 92-9000 brings President Obama to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000 carried President Barack Obama to the Valley of the Sun on Friday, March 13, 2015. The President visited the Veterans Administration Hospital.

Air Force One on approach to land on Runway 08.

Air Force One Boeing Vc-25a 92-9000 Landing Phoenix Sky Harbor March 13 2015: You can purchase prints of this photo as large as 16 inches by 24 inches.

Air Force one departed from Runway 08.

Air Force One Boeing VC-25A 92-9000 Taking Off Phoenix Sky Harbor March 13 2015: You can purchase prints of this photo as large as 16 inches by 24 inches.

August 22, 2017: Air Force One and Air Force Two at Phoenix Sky Harbor

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000 Air Force One and Boeing VC-32A (757-2G4) 99-0004 Air Force Two visited the Valley of the Sun on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Boeing VC-32A (757-2G4) 99-0004 Air Force Two

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000 Air Force One

October 20, 2018: VC-25A at Phoenix Sky Harbor

President Trump arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor aboard Boeing VC-25A 92-9000 on October 18, 2018. He visited Luke Air Force ase and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway on October 19. He departed from Phoenix Sky Harbo aboard a VC-32A because the runway at his destination, Elko, Nevada is too shart for the VC-25A. VC-25A 92-9000 departed a short while after Trump's flight.

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 92-9000

May 5, 2020: VC-25A at Phoenix Sky Harbor

President Trump arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor aboard Boeing VC-25A 82-8000 on May 5, 2020. He visited the Honeywell plant on the north side of the airport to inspect the production of personal protection equipment. VC-25A 92-9000 accompanied 82-8000 across the country but landed at Davis Montahn Air Force Base.

Phoenix Police Department Eurocopter AS350B3 N357FB patrolling the area before Air Force One's arrival.

Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B) 82-8000 on approach to land on Runway 26.

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