Boeing VC-137 Stratoliner

Boeing · United States · first flew 1958 · transport aircraft

The Boeing VC-137 Stratoliner is the military VIP transport variant of the Boeing 707 airliner, most famous for serving as the US presidential aircraft under the Air Force One call sign.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	46.6 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

USAF VIP transport version of the Boeing 707
SAM 26000 and SAM 970000 served as Air Force One
Distinctive blue-and-white presidential livery with 'United States of America' lettering

Standard Boeing 707 airliner airframe in distinctive blue-and-white US presidential livery with large 'United States of America' titles along the fuselage; four podded turbofan engines under swept low wings.

Specifications

The Boeing VC-137 Stratoliner has a length of 46.6 m (153 ft).
It has a wingspan of 43.4 m (142 ft).
Its maximum speed is 966 km/h (600 mph).
Typical crew: 6–10 + VIP passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The USAF received its first VC-137A in 1959 and VC-137C (with more powerful turbofan engines) from 1962. SAM 26000 carried President Kennedy's body back from Dallas in 1963 and is preserved at the Air Force Museum. SAM 970000 (tail 27000) served presidents from Nixon through Clinton.

Variants

VC-137A (JT3C turbojets); VC-137B (JT3D turbofans); VC-137C long-range VIP transport; three VC-137Cs built.

Where you'll see it

Served the USAF and US President from 1959 to 2001 when replaced by the VC-25A (747-based Air Force One); preserved examples at National Museum of the USAF and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.