[leadpenny]

"Air Force One" only applies if the President is on board.

[AgentEcho]

It's only Air Force One if the current president is on board.

For President Reagan it's Special Air Mission ##### (I can't remember the number. I think it was 38000)

Æ

[brewcrew]

Also, I believe there are several Air Force 747's configured the same way - for just such occasions.

[So Cal Rocket]

Yes, the aircraft being used to transport President Reagan, Mrs. Reagan and the family across the country is indeed the same aircraft used by President Bush as Air Force One.

Freeper Leadpenny is correct when saying that it is only referred to as Air Force One when the sitting President is on board.

This aircraft (Boeing 747) was commissioned by President Reagan, but was not finished during his presidency. The "old" aircraft (Boeing 707) used as Air Force One was retired and will be displayed at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

[southernnorthcarolina]

There are at least two 747s which the President uses. Whichever one he is on automatically becomes Air Force One.

In a gesture of respect to President Reagan and to Nancy, President Bush ordered that the plane Bearing President Reagan (which is one of the two used by President Bush) be designated as "Air Force One." A small gesture, but one which speaks volumes.

I believe both "Air Force Ones" were on the tarmac at Andrews earlier -- one to take President Reagan home to California, and one to take President Bush home to Texas.

[Sloth]

There's more than one plane w/ those markings.

[Rogle]

It is my understanding that when Senator Hillary Clinton was visiting Afghanistan last November and flying in an Army Chopper the pilot used the call sign Broom Stick One.

[Captain Peter Blood]

There are two 747's that are for the President's use. I believe the plane being used is the backup 747.

[Uncle Kermie]

The AF1 fleet also includes a MD80, shown in this picture.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040611/480/mdsh10606112025

It was used by Clinton on his vacations to Martha's Vinyard because the runway on MV couldn't handle the 747.

Another trivia - the two 747 AF1s have been used for deception. When Slick Willy flew into Pakistan from India, there was concern about his plane being shot at so they first flew in one of the AF1 747s w/o Slick Willy aboard (nobody knew the plane only had pilots aboard). Then, about 5 minutes later, the second AF1 747 flew in (with Willy aboard).