SAM 27000 Boeing VC-137Stan Stokes

Boeing VC-137C SAM 27000

Boeing VC-137C SAM 27000 Boeing VC-137C SAM 27000 first entered service in 1972 during the administration of Richard Nixon. A modified Boeing 707, SAM 27000 replaced the aging SAM 27000 as the primary means of presidential travel, although…
Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000Stan Stokes

Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000

Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 was the first of two Boeing VC-137C aircraft specifically configured and maintained for use by the President of the United States. The Boeing VC-137C was a military designation for The Boeing 707 airliner. It used…
Air Force One VC-140B JetstarStan Stokes

Lockheed VC-140B Jetstar (Air Force One)

The Lockheed VC-140B Jetstar (Air Force One) was the military version of the Lockheed Model 1329 business jet, the first business jet built in quantity for the civilian market. The United States Air Force acquired six of them to transport the…
Beechcraft VC-6A that was used as "Air Force One".Stan Stokes

Beechcraft VC-6A Air Force One

This Beechcraft VC-6A King Air was purchased by the United States Air Force specifically to fly Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson ( First Lady Claudia Johnson) from Bergstrom AFB to the Johnson Ranch near Stonewall Texas. The runway at their…
A detail from the Stan Stokes painting "History of Air Force One" showing the VC-118A Liftmaster used to carry the President to airfields that were not suitable for the jet aircraftStan Stokes

Douglas VC-118A Liftmaster

This is a detail from the painting "The History of Air Force One" by Stan Stokes. The Douglas C-118 Liftmaster was a militarized version of the Douglas DC-6 airliner.  Just over 100 C-118s were acquired for use by the Air Force as passenger…
Painting of Air Force One "SAM 970".Stan Stokes

BOEING VC-137A (707) SAM 970 or “QUEENIE”

Toward the end of Eisenhower's second term, in 1959, the Air Force added the first of three specially built Boeing 707 jet aircraft (VC-137As) into the fleet. Not really intended for presidential use, one of these aircraft, SAM 970 (nicknamed…
Detail of Stokes "History of the Air Force One" paintingStan Stokes

Aero Commander U-4B by Stan Stokes

AERO COMMANDER U-4B The smallest Air Force One ever used, the need arose for an aircraft like the Aero Commander when President Eisenhower started to use his Gettysburg farm during his presidency. Gettysburg had only a small grass airstrip…
Detail of Stokes "History of Air Force One" paintingStan Stokes

Lockheed Super Constellation “Columbine III”

LOCKHEED VC-121E (1049) SUPER CONSTELLATION “COLUMBINE III” This is a detail of Stan Stokes' painting "The History of Air Force One" that is on display at the Palm Springs Air Museum. This particular airplane is the Lockheed Super Constellation…
Detail of Stokes "History of Air Force One" paintingStan Stokes

LOCKHEED VC-121A (749) CONSTELLATION “COLUMBINE II”

LOCKHEED VC-121A (749) CONSTELLATION “COLUMBINE II” The Constellation was President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s choice for his presidential aircraft. On a Presidential trip from Washington D.C. to Florida, Columbine II, which was known…