ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE

Air Classics, Mar 2004 by Hulett, George

Attractive history of the Presidents' planes

No other form of transportation has changed the quality and character of the American presidency as dramatically as aviation. The many advances in air travel have allowed presidents to extend their reach both at home and abroad, creating new opportunities for personal interaction and diplomacy, as well as new challenges for presidential security.

Air Force One: The Aircraft That Shaped the Modem Presidency by Von Hardesty (NorthWord Press 952-936-4700, $29.95) is the story of the presidents, the planes, and their many trips across the nation and around the globe. It is also a vehicle for better understanding the nature of each presidential administration in the second half of the 20th century. Featuring more than 260 photographs, some of which have never been published, this book shows how these presidents - and the historical events that engulfed them -transformed a unique set of planes into a vital national asset.