The term Air Force One is used by the United States army only when the President of the country is on board. The plane that carries the Vice President of USA is called Air Force Two. Throughout the years, Air Force One has largely become a prominent sign or symbol of the powers of the President. The plane is so famous that when the British Prime Minster, Tony Blair expressed his desire to get a plane like the Air Force One, people said that it would be Blair Force One.



The Air Force One can be easily said as the second home and office of the President. Jet travel of the President first started with John F. Kennedy who ordered a SAM 26,000 long range Boeing 707. Kennedy found the new aircraft very regal and hence he ordered a change in design from the American designer Raymond Loewy. The famous designer referred the National Archives of the US Declaration of Independence and copied the way the country name was written in it.

The seal of the President was designed on both sides of the nose of Air Force One. The sides read in bold letters, ? The United States of America? and the tail consisted of the American Flag designed on it. Loewy's work was liked by the President and everyone else and soon the Air Force One became an international symbol. The model, SAM 26000 was used from the years 1962 to 1998 and it was used by Presidents from Kennedy to Clinton. SAM 2700 was decommissioned by President George Bush and the pieces from the aircraft were assembled in Simi Valley where the exhibits are still present. Ronald Reagan has ordered the transition from Boeing 707 to Boeing 747.

The present Air Force One is equipped with the latest computer communications and the President can get in touch with anyone, no matter in which part of the world he or she is. The plane enables the President to perform his duties (just like he is doing them at his office) while is flying. The Air Force One is accompanied by fighter planes only when the need be.

It would be interesting to end this report with a funny real life incident that happened on Air Force One. Once President George Bush and his wife, Laura Bush were traveling on the plane with Dick Cheney and Jenna Bush. The President says to Dick that if he throws a $10,000 bill from the window, he could make one person happy. Dick says that if he threw 10 $1,000 bills from the window he could make 10 people happy. Laura contributes to the conversation by saying that if she threw 100 $100 bills from the window, her act will make 100 people happy. Jenna rolls her eyes and says that if she threw all of them down from the window it would make the whole United States happy.