Which Aircraft Did US Presidents Fly Before Air Force One?

For most people, the image of “Air Force One” brings to mind a single blue-and-white jumbo jet, an aircraft that famously banks over Washington, D.C., with the presidential seal gleaming as the jet comes in for a landing at the nearby Andrews Air Force Base. In reality, Air Force One is a radio call sign that can apply to any United States Air Force aircraft that is carrying the sitting president, whether it is a small business jet or a highly modified Boeing 747 that typically transports the commander in chief. Nonetheless, across eight decades of airborne presidential travel, a small set of aircraft has come to embody the role, serving as purpose-built flying offices, command posts, and, ultimately, strong symbols of American power.