This is a list of official vehicles of the president of the United States, past and present.

State vehicles

Main article: Presidential state car (United States)

Yachts

Aircraft

Although "Air Force One" is commonly used to refer to the president's primary aircraft, the designation is, strictly speaking, a call sign used to identify any U.S. Air Force aircraft the president is aboard, rather than the name of a particular aircraft. (See below.)

Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to fly in an aircraft while in office. In January 1943 he flew in a Pan American Airways Boeing 314 flying boat, named Dixie Clipper, to Casablanca to meet with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It was soon realized that the president would need a dedicated aircraft and a C-54 transport was converted serve as the presidential aircraft and named Sacred Cow. Roosevelt made only one trip in the Sacred Cow. That was to the Yalta Conference in February 1945 to meet with Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to make plans for the reconstruction of Europe after the impending Allied victory.

Aircraft used as the primary presidential aircraft:

(The dates shown above are the dates when the aircraft was used as the primary presidential aircraft. Most were retained in service for several years after the dates shown.)

Other presidential aircraft

In addition to the above, a number of other aircraft have been used by presidents for trips of short duration. Below is a listing of aircraft types assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing for use by, or in support of, the president or other senior government officials.

Currently in service

Formerly in service


The president and other senior executives have also frequently made use of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane outfitted with "comfort pallets" to provide basic amenities while travelling into war zones undercover with normal non-prioritzed call signs so not to draw attention to the fact that a high value target is in the area.[6][7][8] C-17's also typically proceed presidential travel by bringing the presidential limousine, Marine One, and other United States Secret Service vehicles and equipment to an area for a visit.[9]

Call signs

The following air traffic control call signs designate aircraft transporting the president:

Rail cars

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Joan Wenner. "Presidential Yachts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  2. ^ "John F. Kennedy Fast Facts: Honey Fitz (Boat)". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  3. ^ "John F. Kennedy Fast Facts: Manitou (Boat)". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  4. ^ "History". manitouyacht.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  5. ^ Graff, Garrett (2 May 2017). "The President's Secret Air Force". Politico. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  6. ^ Martinez, Luis (April 26, 2006). "Rumsfeld's Travels: Taking the 'Silver Bullet' to Iraq". ABC News. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  7. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (September 29, 2017). "Mattis Used The USAF's Flying Airstream Trailer "Silver Bullet" Pod On Afghanistan Trip". The Drive. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  8. ^ Tirpak, John A. (July 21, 2008). "About Those Luxury Pallets". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  9. ^ Rodgers, Lucy (2 December 2019). "Donald Trump's UK visit: What's he bringing with him?". BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  10. ^ Weber, Tom; Kaiser, Emily (July 6, 2015). "How Lincoln's funeral train car perished in Minnesota". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
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