[Business Insider] The US Air Force operates a VIP transportation system for the government's top employees.
The Air Force, which is known for flying the president on Air Force One, also flies elected officials, cabinet secretaries, and even top generals on a fleet of aircraft configured for VIPs.
As part of the Air Force's Special Air Mission, the 89th Airlift Wing, which is based at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC, operates a VIP fleet with the stated mission of "Enabling national interests through global transportation for America's senior leaders."
Its most frequent flyers include the president, vice president, first lady, secretary of state, secretary of defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a spokesperson for the wing told Business Insider.
The fleet is primarily made up of civilian aircraft, which are sometimes modified for military use and receive military designations. For example, Air Force One is a modified Boing 747-200 designated as the VC-25A.
The 89th Airlift Wing took delivery of its newest aircraft, a Gulfstream 550 designated as a C-37B, just before Christmas. The US Navy's website says the aircraft cost $64 million. |