@AmericanAir, my one-year-old daughter. My wife and I have been stranded on the plane for over six hours and counting with absolutely terrible updates. Your lack of communication has made this an awful Christmas. #Stranded
@FranchiseMnA I've been a member for the last five years and have visited around 100 different studios while traveling for work. I never noticed a clear trend on how the location or size of the city affects how busy a studio is. The best studios always have great trainers and a strong culture.
“Air Force One” – the airplane that flies the President around – traces its roots back to 1933, when FDR was the first President to fly while in office (Teddy Roosevelt had flown in a Wright Flyer in 1910, but had already finished his terms…legend).
The first aircraft used was a Douglas “Dolphin” amphibious aircraft (meaning it can land on water or a runway), specially outfitted for luxury, w/ a separate sleeping compartment. It remained in service until 1939; when it was retired, it was not immediately replaced.
Instead, the President relied upon commercial airlines, though they were often chartered. During WWII, air travel – which didn’t have a great safety record – was still considered safer than traveling by ship, due to the German U-boat threat.
By 1943, the military decided they needed a dedicated transport. They modified a version of the B-24, but the Secret Service was adamant the airplane was not safe; crews of the B-24 in WWII had taken to calling it the “Flying Coffin” & a “Widow Maker”; it was a difficult airplane to fly, especially at low speeds. It also was basically a bomber, which probably wasn’t the image they were looking for.
A C-54 “Sky Master” was soon refurbished & dubbed the “Sacred Cow” for use by FDR. It included a battery powered elevator to lift FDR in his wheelchair.
After FDR’s death, Truman used the “Sacred Cow” extensively; he even signed the National Security Act of 1947 aboard it, making that airplane the birthplace of the US Air Force. It’s on display at the Air Force Museum in Ohio.
Shortly after, the C-54 was replaced by a
C-118 “Lift Master” dubbed the “Independence”. It was, of course, well-furnished; a distinctive Eagle paint scheme was put on the nose.
In 1953, a Lockheed “Constellation” – one of the sexiest airplanes ever – entered regular service for the President w/ the moniker “Columbine II”. It became the first aircraft to carry the call sign “Air Force One” after an incident in which the normal call sign based on serial number – in this case, Air Force 8610 – entered an air traffic control area with an aircraft carrying a similar callsign (Eastern 8610…similar callsigns can cause confusion & safety hazards).
(“Air Force One” as a callsign can only be used when the President is actually aboard…in most other cases, they carry a callsign beginning with “SAM”, for Special Air Mission)
By 1959, the government recognized a need to upgrade to jets; the Soviets were using them, so it was considered undignified for the Americans to show up in a propellor driven aircraft. They adopted the Boeing 707; a few early models were used, but they were not painted in a livery associated with the United States. Some of the Lift Masters remained, though, & served as the primary transport for domestic trips.
After Kennedy took office, his wife contacted a designer for help on the layout & livery of the new 707s in 1961. The result was the distinctive blue & white paint scheme that persists to this day. It flew for quite a while, with minor interior changes from each administration.
Under Reagan, the 747 was ordered as a replacement for the 707, though the 707 would continue to serve until 1998; which airplane was used depended on the mission. The 747s began service in 1990 & have become “the” Air Force One. Replacements for the original 747s are expected in 2026; the 747 production line has been shut down for a while, but two never-used 747s were located for a retrofit; ironically, they’d been originally ordered for a Russian airline that filed for bankruptcy before delivery.
It’s a misnomer that Air Force One is always accompanied by a fighter escort; that does happen periodically, but it’s not the standard.
Pilots who want to fly AF1 apply to the 89th Airlift Wing; they are interviewed & selected. They don’t start out on AF1…they work up to it in various different platforms transporting other dignitaries. It’s a prestigious job & not easy to get. It’s a big deal for your résumé.
@TKopelman My now wife bought a condo as a resident. Rented out one bedroom to help afford it, and just sold it after her six year residency. Walked away with over $100k.