Page 2 (Page 1)
All photos William G. Hartenstein ©2004
President Reagan is placed into the hearse.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is escorted to waiting
motorcade
after arriving with the Reagan Family aboard the Presidential
Aircraft carrying
President Reagan.
Honorary pallbearer Merv Griffin, an entertainer and a close friend of
the Reagans is escorted to waiting motorcade after arriving with Reagan
Family aboard the Presidential Aircraft carrying President Reagan.
The limousine carrying Mrs. Reagan starts on the journey to the
Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
The hearse carrying President Reagan leaves for his final resting spot.
VC-25 Sam 28000 liftsoff at 6:30pm from runway 21 which is 11,000ft
long and ends at shoreline of the Pacific Ocean.
Read more about the Presidential Aircraft at the bottom of this page.
Gear up!
SAM 28000 heads out over the Pacific Ocean after completeing its
mission.
History of the VC-25A - Air Force One
The mission of the VC-25A aircraft -- Air Force One -- is to provide
air transport for the president of the United States. The presidential
air transport fleet consists of two specially configured Boeing
747-200B's -- tail numbers 28000 and 29000 -- with the Air Force
designation VC-25A. When the president is aboard either aircraft, or
any Air Force aircraft, the radio call sign is "Air Force One."
Principal differences between the VC-25A and the standard Boeing 747,
other than the number of passengers carried, are the electronic and
communications equipment aboard Air Force One, its interior
configuration and furnishings, self-contained baggage loader, front and
aft air-stairs, and the capability for inflight refueling.
Accommodations for the president include an executive suite consisting
of a stateroom (with dressing room, lavatory and shower) and the
president's office. A conference/dining room is also available for the
president, his family and staff. Other separate accommodations are
provided for guests, senior
staff, Secret Service and security personnel, and the news media. Two
galleys
provide up to 100 meals at one sitting. Six passenger lavatories,
including
disabled access facilities, are provided as well as a rest area and
mini-galley
for the aircrew. The VC-25A also has a compartment outfitted with
medical
equipment and supplies for minor medical emergencies. These aircraft
are
flown by the presidential aircrew, maintained by the Presidential
Maintenance
Branch, and are assigned to Air Mobility Command's 89th Airlift Wing,
Andrews
Air Force Base, Md.
The first VC-25A -- tail number 28000 -- flew as "Air Force One" on
Sept. 6, 1990, when it transported President George Bush to Kansas,
Florida and back to Washington, D.C. A second VC-25A, tail number 29000
transported President Bill Clinton and former Presidents Carter and
Bush to Israel for the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The
VC-25A will usher presidential travel into the 21st century, upholding
the proud tradition and distinction of being known as "Air Force One."
VC-25 aircraft are extensively modified B-747-200s with the basic
airframe technology of the 1960s. The aircraft incorporates
state-of-the-art avionics and communications equipment with Stage III
compliant engines.
Boeing is currently delivering B-747s throughout the world, so the
logistics support base appears secure for the foreseeable future. With
the continuing march of technology and the prestige attached to the
U.S. Presidential airlift fleet, Air Force plans recommend a system
review date of 2010. At this point, the aircraft will have been in
service 20 years, and commercial operators will have retired their
B-747-200s counterparts from front-line service.
Air Force One VC-25A Data & Specs:
Primary Function: Presidential air transport
Contractor: Boeing Airplane Co.
Power Plant: Four General Electric CF6-80C2B1 jet engines
Thrust: 56,700 pounds, each engine
Length 231 feet, 10 inches (70.7 meters)
Height 63 feet, 5 inches (19.3 meters)
Wingspan 195 feet, 8 inches (59.6 meters)
Speed 630 miles per hour (Mach 0.92)
Ceiling 45,100 feet (13,746 meters)
Maximum Takeoff Weight 833,000 pounds (374,850 kilograms)
Range: 7,800 statute miles (6,800 nautical miles) (12,550 kilometers)
Crew: 26 (passenger/crew capacity: 102) Introduction Date: Dec. 8, 1990
(tail No. 28000); Dec. 23, 1990 (tail No. 29000)
Date Deployed: Sept. 6, 1990 (tail No. 28000); Mar. 26, 1991 (tail No.
29000)
Inventory: Active force, 2; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0
All photos William G. Hartenstein ©2004