Air Force Three is theair traffic control designatedcall sign held by anyUnited States Air Force aircraft carrying theUnited States secretary of state, but not thepresident of the United States orvice president.^[1][2][3] The term is often associated with theBoeing C-32, a modified757 which is most commonly used as the secretary of state's transport.^[4]

In July 1955,John Foster Dulles became the first Secretary of State to fly internationally on an American government airplane, travelling aboardColumbine III toGeneva,Switzerland, alongside PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower.^[5]

From the tenures ofHenry Kissinger toWarren Christopher, the secretary of state's official aircraft was amodified Boeing 707.^[6][7]

TheC-20 Gulfstream was used as an alternate Air Force Three during the tenure of SecretaryGeorge Shultz.^[8]

DuringJames Baker's tenure, the secretary of state flew aboard aVC-137C SAM 26000, after thepresidential plane was upgraded in 1990.^[9]

Since the tenure of SecretaryMadeleine Albright, the Boeing C-32 has been the primary aircraft of the secretary of state.^[10][11]

During the tenure ofHillary Clinton as Secretary of State, Air Force Threeflew to 112 countries, the most of any Secretary of State inU.S. history.^[12]

Aircraft allocated for use by the secretary of state andsenior executives authorized to travel under theSpecial Air Mission designation operated by the89th Airlift Wing can be distinguished from the distinctiveRaymond LoewyAir Force One livery by the lack of thesteel blue cheatline and cap over the cockpit.^[13][14]

Throughout theObama,Trump, andBiden administrations, the interior of Air Force Three was slowly refitted with more luxurious accommodations, at a cost of $16 million per aircraft.^[15]

In August 2014, SecretaryJohn Kerry's plane broke down inHonolulu,Hawaii, due to an electrical problem.^[16] In October 2014, Secretary Kerry's plane broke down inVienna,Austria.^[17]

In January 2024, SecretaryAntony Blinken was required to change planes inDavos due to a "critical failure" from anoxygen leak.^[18]

In February 2025, Air Force Three returned toWashington, D.C. after experiencing a "mechanical problem" while en route toMunich.^[19]

• Air Force One
• Air Force Two
• 1254th Air Transport Wing
• 89th Airlift Wing

• Boeing 757
• Call signs
• Diplomatic visits
• United States Air Force
• United States special-purpose aircraft
• United States secretaries of state

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from July 2025