# What was Bush flying on this morning? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 7, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958 "2004-07-07T15:32:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/1 "2004-07-07T15:32:44Z")
(I mean, besides the vain hope that he will be re-elected.) I see that our president is in John Edwards’ back yard this morning. And the news program that informed me of this also showed Bush getting off a plane was was not a 747. BUT it was painted blue and white like the two 747s that serve as Air Force One. It looked like maybe a 757 or 767 from the glimpses I got (strangely enough, the news wasn’t as concerned with the plane as the reason for the trip). What’s the deal? How many planes do we have for our cheif executive? And…can I have one? ---
**Author:** ![beltbuckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@beltbuckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltbuckle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/2 "2004-07-07T15:38:58Z")
> [@DeathLlama](#): > > (I mean, besides the vain hope that he will be re-elected.) It still boggles me why people have to get in their personal political pot shots any time it is possible. I know the answer to your question, but when one asks it like this, I don’t feel compelled to answer. Please leave your political opinions out of a factual forum. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/3 "2004-07-07T15:49:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Air Force One is the callsign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. The Air Force operates two VC-25A aircraft, tail numbers 28000 and SAM 29000, for this primary purpose. They are custom-configured versions of the civilian Boeing 747-2G4B. Before 28000 and 29000 entered service in 1990, two Boeing 707-320B-type aircraft, tail numbers 26000 and 27000, had been operated as Air Force One starting in 1958. > > – snip – > > Air Force One flights are handled as military operations with all flights managed by the Presidential Airlift Group of the Air Mobility Command’s 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB in Maryland. The President often flies a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter, callsign Marine One, between the Andrews AFB and the White House. Similarly, Army aircraft carrying the President bear the callsign Army One, and Navy aircraft are called Navy One. A civilian plane carrying the President gets the callsign Executive One, and a plane carrying a member of the first family will be called Executive One Foxtrot. Source: [http://www.fact-index.com/a/ai/air\_force\_one.html](http://www.fact-index.com/a/ai/air_force_one.html) Unfortunately the Andrews AFB web site doesn’t appear to list the aircraft of the 89th Airlift Wing anymore. Security reasons perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/4 "2004-07-07T15:57:48Z")
The 89th does have at least 2 [Boeing C-32](http://www.theaviationzone.com/factsheets/c32.asp)’s, commercial 757’s outfitted for VIP use but able to fit into airports that the 747’s can’t. That has to be what you saw. [The 89th Airlift Wing Home Page](http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/alf-tank/89th%20Airlift%20Wing/89AW.htm) lists their inventory: > [@](#): > > C-20. The C-20 is the military version of the Gulfstream-III business jet. Pilots will initially qualify in the G-III and later may qualify in the G-V. The mission is worldwide. Initial training is done by a civilian contractor in Savannah, GA with follow-on qualification training conducted at Andrews AFB. > > C-37. The C-37 is the military version of the Gulfstream-V. It is equipped with the latest in avionics and range enhancement features. Initial training is done by a civilian contractor in Savannah, GA with follow-on difference training conducted at Andrews AFB. Pilots selected to upgrade to the G-V normally do so after 12 months or more in the G-III. > > C-40. The C-40 is the newest aircraft in the Air Force inventory. It is the military version of the Boeing Business jet–based on the Boeing 737. It is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and range enhancement features. Initial training is done by a civilian contractor in Seattle, WA with follow-on qualification training conducted at Andrews AFB. > > VC-9C. The VC-9C is the Air Force VIP version of the DC-9. The mission takes the VC-9C throughout North and South America, as well as Europe and Africa. Initial training is accomplished by a civilian contractor in St. Louis, MO with follow on qualification training conducted at Scott AFB. > > C-32. The C-32 is the Air Force version of the Boeing 757, the newest “heavy” aircraft in the USAF fleet. It is intended to replace the aging VC-137. Training is conducted by a civilian contractor at Louisville, KY. > > VC-25. Commonly referred to as ‘Air Force One’. This Boeing 747 aircraft is selectively manned from the cadre of 89 AW pilots. ---
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/5 "2004-07-07T16:41:39Z")
> [@beltbuckle](#): > > I know the answer to your question, but when one asks it like this, I don’t feel compelled to answer. Dear Beltbuckle, Would you please tell me what aircraft (besides the two 747-200s) are available to the President of the United States? Thanks, Deathllama ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/6 "2004-07-07T17:02:50Z")
> [@beltbuckle](#): > > It still boggles me why people have to get in their personal political pot shots any time it is possible. I know the answer to your question, but when one asks it like this, I don’t feel compelled to answer. Please leave your political opinions out of a factual forum. ::checks to see that question has been answered:: Bushsucksbushsucksbushsucksnyahnyahbushsucks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/7 "2004-07-07T18:00:52Z")
Whatever he was flying on, it _was not_ Ibogaine. Nope. No rare African hallucinogens here. Nope, nope, nope. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/8 "2004-07-07T18:34:08Z")
> [@beltbuckle](#): > > It still boggles me why people have to get in their personal political pot shots any time it is possible. I know the answer to your question, but when one asks it like this, I don’t feel compelled to answer. Please leave your political opinions out of a factual forum. Gee, with a whopping 36 posts, it didn’t take you long to mount that high horse. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/9 "2004-07-07T19:03:40Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Gee, with a whopping 36 posts, it didn’t take you long to mount that high horse. And after being here for four years, **DeathLlama** should know better. ---
**Author:** ![beltbuckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@beltbuckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltbuckle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/10 "2004-07-07T19:31:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Gee, with a whopping 36 posts, it didn’t take you long to mount that high horse. I fail to see how it takes a great many posts to figure out what is acceptable. People that come here often know better. People have frequently been warned by moderators to stop this behaviour, as all it does is degrade the forum. So if following protocol is mounting a high horse, then I invite all the political-pot-shotters to mount up as well. It is basically common sense and courtesy. ---
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/11 "2004-07-07T19:33:51Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > And after being here for four years, **DeathLlama** should know better. Yes. Yes, I should. And as a life-long Republican, I probably shouldn’t criticize my party’s candidate, either. Bad recalcitrant llama. I shan’t do it again (at least, not in this forum). Anyhow. If you all would please forgive the flippancy of my damn fool OP and return to the question, I’d really like to know what the heck they are flying. I managed to dig up an article from Clinton’s administration mentioning a Boeing 707 serving as Air Force One (and getting stuck in the mud on a taxi way). I’m wondering if they’re still flying those as back-ups, or if there’s something else. Did anyone else see Bush’s plane on the news this morning? I know it’s not the burning question on everyone’s mind these days, but I’m just curious. thanks, GraveIllnessLlama\* \*a slightly more health-conscious, politically benign subsidiary of DeathLlama, Inc. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/12 "2004-07-07T21:22:31Z")
I think you missed where **ElvisL1ves** answered your question earlier. Bush was flying on a C-32, a modified Boeing 757. The Air Force bought these to replace the aging VC-137s (the old 707s). ---
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/13 "2004-07-07T22:27:28Z")
> [@pilot141](#): > > I think you missed where **ElvisL1ves** answered your question earlier. > > Bush was flying on a C-32, a modified Boeing 757. The Air Force bought these to replace the aging VC-137s (the old 707s). Okay, I definitely missed the part where they replaced the 707s (not used to thinking of them as VC-137s). And really, who could mistake a 707 for a 757? Shouldn’t have even brought it up. Sorry. However, while Elvis said the C-32 has to be what I saw, I want to know from someone who saw it themselves or can find a picture. The C-40 (military version of the 737) is the newest aircraft in the 89th’s inventory. Head-on from far away (which is what I saw…and only for a second), they could easily be mistaken for each other. Things have certainly been narrowed down a bit, but right now I’m looking for someone who can say, “Yeah, I saw that, and it was a C-32,” or, “Nope. It was the new C-40.” The larger question has been answered, though. Yes, there are a whole fleet of planes painted blue and white with “United States of America” emblazoned on the side. And, they can all serve as Air Force One, if need be. Thank you. (The final question of my OP remains unanswered, though.) ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/14 "2004-07-07T22:43:53Z")
> [@DeathLlama](#): > > can I have one? No. You may pay for it, but you can’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/15 "2004-07-07T22:55:31Z")
**DeathLlama** , I saw the video this morning and it was definitely a C-32. If you want to see a better view of the airplane go [here](http://www.wxii12.com/index.html) and click on the “Bill O’Niel Live with the President” video clip. You can clearly see that it is a C-32 (757) that Bush was on. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-bush-flying-on-this-morning/253958/16 "2004-07-07T23:14:20Z")
Since the question seems to have been asked and answered, let’s wrap this up before it gets more political or snarky than it already is. Closed. **samclem** GQ moderator