FDR Goes Airborne

[THE PILGRIM]

Only recently realized that when FDR went to the Casablanca Conference-
That was the first time a US Prez in office ever flew on an airplane.
FDR had flown before, but before he was President.
He flew across the S. Atlantic on a Pan Am Clipper Boeing flying boat.
I guess I was surprised that he didn't ever fly somewhere in the US, but apparently he took a big leap first.

The First Presidential Flight
|
Daily Planet | Air & Space Magazine

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I know by the end of the war there was a dedicated plane for FDR's use. I knew the RO for the back-up. The back-up was never used by FDR as it didn't have an elevator. It was used to fly other big shots all over the US and to other countries. The only notable he could remember was Congressman from Texas, LBJ.

I think the Casablanca flight is the first Trans-Atlantic presidential flight.

Ivan

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The Dixie Clipper Boeing Flying Boat that FDR used to go to Casablanca was an airliner.
The first airplane specifically built and configured for the President was FDR's VC-54C, The Sacred Cow.
He went to Yalta in it.

Douglas VC-54C “Sacred Cow” > National Museum of the US Air Force™ > Display