Boeing C-32
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C-32 | |
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A C-32A on final approach | |
Role | VIP transport |
Manufacturer | Boeing |
Introduction | June 1998 |
Status | Operational |
Primary user | United States Air Force |
Number built | 8 |
Developed from | Boeing 757 |
The Boeing C-32 is a military passenger transportation version of the Boeing 757-200 as designated by the United States Air Force. The C-32 provides transportation for United States leaders to locations around the world. The primary users are the Vice President of the United States (using the distinctive call sign "Air Force Two"), the First Lady, and the Secretary of State. On rare occasions, other members of the U.S. Cabinet and Congressional leaders have been authorized to fly aboard the C-32 for various missions. The C-32, since its debut, has also served as Air Force One in place of the larger VC-25A to airports that cannot support that Boeing 747-based jumbo jet.
Design and development
The C-32 is a Boeing 757 a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner that has been modified for government use, mainly a change to a 45-passenger interior and military avionics.[1]
A contract was awarded in August 1996 for four aircraft supplemented by the smaller C-37A to replace the aging fleet of VC-137 aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered to the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland in late June 1998.
The Trump administration has included $6 million in its 2018 federal budget proposal to study replacements for the C-32A.[2]
Two further second-hand Boeing 757s were acquired in 2010 for government use although it is not clear which agency they are operated by, they have been frequently associated with the Foreign Emergency Support Team of the U.S. State Department.[3][4]
The additional two aircraft, designed C-32B, have been modified with aerial refueling equipment and extended range fuel cells giving them a 6,000 nmi (6,900 mi; 11,000 km) range.[citation needed]
Operation
![Robert Gates and George H. W. Bush on a C-32](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Gates_and_Bush_on_a_C-32.jpg/220px-Gates_and_Bush_on_a_C-32.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Barack_Obama_in_Air_Force_Two.jpg/220px-Barack_Obama_in_Air_Force_Two.jpg)
The four C-32As are operated by the 1st Airlift Squadron of the 89th Airlift Wing, they are available for use by the vice-president (using callsign Air Force Two), the first lady and members of the cabinet and congress.[1] They are also used by the President (using callsign Air Force One) if the destination is too small to take the larger VC-25.[citation needed]
Operators
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/C-32.jpg/220px-C-32.jpg)
- United States Air Force
- 1st Airlift Squadron - Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
- 150th Special Operations Squadron - McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey[citation needed]
Specifications (C-32A)
Data from [citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: 16 flight crew (varies with mission)
- Capacity: 45 passengers
Performance
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ a b Air Force C-32 factsheet
- ^ Weisgerber, Marcus. "Pentagon Wants to Get Started on New Air Force Two and Doomsday Planes". Defense One. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ "Programs and Initiatives". www.state.gov. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST)". US Department of State. Retrieved on May 8, 2013
- The original version of this article was from the public domain source at Air Force Link
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)