8 September 2001: Special Air Mission 27000, a Boeing VC-137C, serial number 72-7000, served as an airborne office and transport for seven United States presidents over 29 years. It made its last flight from Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland to San Bernardino International Airport, California, where technicians from Boeing disassembled the aircraft and transported it in sections to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum at Simi Valley, California. It was reassembled and is on display inside the Air Force One Pavilion.
Aboard for its final flight were Secretary of the Air Force James G. Roche, Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Lance W. Lord, U.S. Air Force, and former First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan.
The VC-137C was a specially-built Model 707-353B four-engine jet airliner. Known by the call sign Air Force One when the President is aboard, it otherwise is referred to as Special Air Mission 27000. Its sister ship, 72-6000, is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where it recently was returned to display after renovation.
© 2015, Bryan R. Swopes
I remember seeing the sister ship arriving in Birmingham in 1998 when we hosted the G8 conference. Very highly polished and obviously very well looked after indeed.
The paint scheme of Air Force One was designed by famed designer Raymond Loewy. Loewy also designed streamliner locomotives in the 30s, ’46 Lincoln Continental, Studebaker Avanti, Exxon logo, Lucky Strike logo, the stripes on Coast Guard ships, SkyLab interior, Air France Concord interior and the list goes on.
As part of the AF-1 crew at the time, I had the honor of flying this aircraft on its last flight. We had several of the AF-1 crew that had flown President Reagan during his Presidency. Mrs. Reagan showed up for the arrival ceremony and came on the aircraft. I have yet to see it in the Reagan Library, but it is on my list to go.
I served on the maintenance crew for the Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations. I was at the Reagan Museum and Library as the AF-1 Pavilion was under construction. One of the docents took me out back and showed me 27000 as it lay there in crates. I have numerous pictures of that visit. I’ve since returned to the pavilion many times. I am in awe every time I’m there. My last visit, I ran into Michael Reagan and we chatted for about 45 minutes. Great aircraft, wonderful family and the experience of a lifetime serving Ronald Reagan.