Air Force One

Did you know that the term Air Force One does not refer to a specific plane, but rather, a military designation?

Air Force One is the call sign for whatever Air Force plane the President of the United States happens to be on at the time. There are actually two of the familiar customized Air Force Boeing 747s that most often transport the President and are thereby known as Air Force One. Often these planes will rotate duty as Air Force One.

Other branches of the military use the same terminology. The helicopter that carries the President is managed by the US Marine Corps. Hence when the President is aboard, it goes by the call sign Marine One.

When the President rides aboard a vehicle owned by the Army, Navy, or Coast Guard - those vehicles are identifed the same way: Army One, Navy One, Coast Guard One.