A view of Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
There is undoubtedly a mystique about Air Force One, and this particular plane (now retired from service) is dramatically staged at the Reagan Library. It’s also right next to a Marine One helicopter of the sort that ferries the president on shorter trips. Visitors to the presidential museum can walk through both vehicles.
Here is a photo of the president’s desk on Air Force One, as it looked during Reagan’s presidency.
The first president to have a plane specifically set aside for presidential use was John Kennedy. The plane on display the Reagan Library served seven presidents, from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush. Reagan himself flew 660,000 miles on this plane, to 26 countries and 46 states.
There are currently two Boeing aircraft that have been built to serve as a presidential plane. Each Air Force One has unlimited range, as it can be refueled in midair, and can be a mobile command center in the case of an attack on government.
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Photo credit: All photos by Bob Riel.