What is Air Force One?
Air Force One is an aviation call sign which refers to an aircraft carrying the President of the United States (POTUS). In popular culture, the term has come to mean the aircraft itself, whether or not the President is on board. In actuality, two specially equipped Boeing 747-200Bs are reserved for the use of the President, with tail numbers 28000 and 29000. While in flight, Air Force One serves as a mobile White House, and the planes are outfitted with advanced telecommunications equipment for the President and his or her staff to use while en route to a destination. The Air Force designates Air Force One as VC-25A when the President is not on board, and is responsible for maintaining and equipping the aircraft. Other military forces also provide transportation to the President on aircraft such as Marine One, a helicopter, and Army One. Because the safety of the President is paramount, flights of Air Force One are run much like a military operation when the President is on board, and
