Inside SAM 26000: The Historic Air Force One Used by Eight US Presidents
This article explores the history and significance of SAM 26000, the first jet aircraft specifically designed for US presidents. Serving as Air Force One from 1962 to 1998, this Boeing VC-137C transported eight commanders-in-chief, ranging from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton. The plane is historically notable for being the site where Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president following the assassination of JFK in 1963, and for transporting Kennedy's body back to Washington. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy collaborated with designer Raymond Loewy to create the iconic blue and white livery and add the "United States of America" inscription. After 36 years of service and 13,000 flying hours, the aircraft was retired and is now housed at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Visitors can currently tour the interior of the plane, which remains a significant artifact of American political history and presidential travel evolution.
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