Air Force One

[JohnRevere]

Hello,
I was wondering do you have to be picked to fly the Air Force One or is the certain requirments? Thanks

[Vingus]

It is a very competitive position. You have to apply, cause nobody will recommend you due to the fact that flying air force 1 takes you out of the "normal" carreer progression ladder. Min requirements are 2500 hrs and instructor or evaluator experience in a major weapon system. You send your checkride scores and performance reports, along with a letter, and your papers meet a board.

You have to be a total company man to get this job. You must have filled all of your career squares before applying. It is not an easy job to get.

[JimmyK]

Oh and being just totally awesome helps too.

[JohnRevere]

aww ok thanks, whered you get this info? i think it would be cool to be a pilot for that awsome plane

[ROFCIBC]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello,
I was wondering do you have to be picked to fly the Air Force One or is the certain requirements? Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

NOTE: this info may not be current.

Air Force One, along with a lot of other VIP flying falls under the 89th MAW at Andrews AFB, MD. They also have “detachments” in other places, notably Europe and the Pacific.

The 89th has a varied fleet with Air Force One being the top of the "heap" so to speak.

In addition to a spotless record, there is, as one might assume, quite a bit of "politics" involved. Personal recommendations and the like. In fact I would hazard a guess that unless you know and are "sponsored" by someone who is a part of the Presidential Support staff/organizations your chances at selection go down.

The flying hours/experience are probably pretty far down the line as by the time you have the become a viable candidate you will have well beyond the "minimum".

FWIW all flying jobs have some experience prerequisites, all of which are contained in Air Force regulations. May be as simple as "pilot training graduate". Generally high visibility jobs or flying a new airplane in the inventory will have higher prerequisites.

When we started the KC10 unit, out of 60 pilots we ended up with, only four had not previously qualified as an aircraft commander. The average military flying time was over 3,000 hours. Being a reserve unit the service time was over 8 years. Out of the 54 non full time slots, 52 were airline pilots. At the time the minimum total time was 2500 hours, with at least 1500 in multi-engine, multi crew place airplanes. The vast majority were former KC/RC/EC135 troops with some B52 types, or MAC guys with receiver refueling experience in the C5 or C141. Eventually as the KC10 matured, a brand new 2Lt out of pilot training could get in.

Back to the 89th. One of my fellow IPs at Castle ended up there, and eventually was flying Air Force Two which is the Vice President's plane. At the time it was a C9 (DC9) eventually becoming a 707 when Air Force One became a 747. Don't know what it is currently. I ran into him at Pease AFB, HN one time when he had just flown then VP George H. Bush in there, as it was the closest place to Kennebunkport, ME which was where Bush had a home.

He said he enjoyed the job, due to where he went and who he got to meet. Said the flying was pretty straightforward, except for the exceptional security involved. I would guess in today’s environment the security is way beyond "exceptional".

If you do a web search under "Air Force One", or "89 MAW" you will turn up all sorts of information.

First step...get a Commission in the Air Force! Step two...get those Air Force Pilot wings! Then you're on your own! Good luck!

[JohnRevere]

thanks a lot for all that info!

[USMCmech]

[ QUOTE ]
Back to the 89th. One of my fellow IPs at Castle ended up there, and eventually was flying Air Force Two which is the Vice President's plane. At the time it was a C9 (DC9) eventually becoming a 707 when Air Force One became a 747. Don't know what it is currently. I ran into him at Pease AFB, HN one time when he had just flown then VP George H. Bush in there, as it was the closest place to Kennebunkport, ME which was where Bush had a home.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've seen several different aircrat flown as "AF1". In addition to the VC-25 (747) They sometimes use their C-17, the 757, the C-9 (Clinton took this one to marthas vinyard), & untill recently the 707.

I don't know if they have ever used the gulfstreams as AF1, but they might.


At HMX-1 we flew as "Marine 1" whenever the President was on borad. We used the VH-3 which you most commonly see at the White House. Also used are the VH-60 for missions that required more performance, and ocasionlly the CH-46.

[P3_Super_Bee]

[ QUOTE ]
One of my fellow IPs at Castle ended up there, and eventually was flying Air Force Two which is the Vice President's plane. Don't know what it is currently.

[/ QUOTE ]

C-32 (B752) is primary aircraft for the Veep.

[ QUOTE ]

I don't know if they have ever used the gulfstreams as AF1, but they might.


[/ QUOTE ]

The backup is a Gulfstream. Sits in our hangar when ever the President is in town.

[ROFCIBC]

Interesting story (at least I think so otherwise why would I post it).

When Nixon resigned he left Washington for California. The call sign was "Air Force One" as he was the President. Enroute Ford was sworn in as President. At that exact instant the call sign of the plane Nixon was on reverted to "MAC" and the tail number of the plane, as it was no longer carrying the President.

OK, so it's not that interesting of a story, but I had the "can't sleeps" and have been up since 0330!

[GatorFC]

Don't forget "Navy One":

[scoobs]

Here is the official link.It tells you everything you need to know.

http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/alf-...0Wing/89AW.htm