40 Air Force One Facts

Presidential Airlift Group

U.S. service members with the Joint Forces Honor Guard participate in a departure ceremony for former President George H.W. Bush A military honor guard walks off after taking part in a departure ceremony honoring former President George H.W. Bush in front of the Special Air Mission 41 plane at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, Dec. 3, 2018. Nearly 4,000 military and civilian personnel from across all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support during George H.W. Bush’s, the 41st President of the United States state funeral.

Air Force One is maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group, part of the White House Military Office. The Airlift Group was founded in 1944 as the Presidential Pilot Office at the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Otherwise known as the 89th Airlift Group stationed at Joint Base Andrews, it maintains an Air Expeditionary Force combat-ready force of more than 1,100 personnel. The 89th Airlift Wing provides global Special Air Mission airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the president, vice president, cabinet members, combatant commanders and other senior military and elected leaders as tasked by the White House, Air Force chief of staff and Air Mobility Command.