SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - SEPTEMBER 11: Air Force Two, carrying Vice President JD Vance, and the casket of Charlie Kirk on board, takes off at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his "American Comeback Tour" on the campus of Utah Valley University when he was shot in the neck and killed on September 10, 2025.
Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
Vice presidents started traveling by plane via Air Force Two in 1959.Vice President JD Vance flies in a C-32, a custom military version of a commercial jetliner.It features a communications center, stateroom, and 32 seats for journalists.
For vice presidents of the United States, frequent travel is in the job description. Luckily, they get to travel in style.
While traversing the country and the world, Vice President JD Vance flies in a custom C-32 plane featuring an advanced communications center, conference room, and private stateroom.
The plane measures 155 feet long and can fly 5,500 nautical miles without refueling. When Vance is on board, it's known as "Air Force Two."
Take a look inside the vice president's plane.
Any Air Force plane carrying the US vice president is called "Air Force Two."
Air Force Two, a Boeing C-32A airplane, sits on the tarmac during the arrival of the US president at the Biarritz Pays Basque Airport in Biarritz, south-west France, on August 24, 2019, on the first day of the annual G7 Summit attended by the leaders of the world's seven richest democracies, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images
Similar to the president aboard "Air Force One," the designation of "Air Force Two" refers to any Air Force plane carrying the vice president, not a specific jet or model.
Over the years, several different planes have carried the Air Force Two title, transporting vice presidents and their staff around the world. The most commonly used jet is a C-32, a customized military version of a commercial Boeing 757-200 plane, according to the Air Force.
The vice president is generally prohibited from flying on "Air Force One," a plane carrying the president.
Vice President JD Vance on Air Force Two.
Ben Curtis/POOL/AFP/Getty Images
The president and vice president don't travel together for security reasons.
It's customary for presidents and vice presidents to salute service members as they board and disembark presidential planes.
Vice President Kamala Harris salutes as she disembarks Air Force Two at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland Friday, March 26, 2021, and departs en route to Blair House in Washington, D.C.
Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
Service members are required to salute the president as commander in chief, but not the vice president. Still, it's customary for troops to salute vice presidents, as well.
Richard Nixon was the first vice president to travel internationally via jet on official business, visiting what was then the USSR in 1959.
In an airplane, American politician US Vice President Richard M Nixon (1913 - 1994) (center) listens to an unidentified man during his State Visit to the USSR, circa August 1959.
Thomas J O'Halloran/US News & World Report Collection/PhotoQuest/Getty Images
Nixon, who served as President Dwight D. Eisenhower's vice president, flew on a Boeing VC-137A Stratoliner to visit the USSR in 1959.
Beginning with the Ford administration in 1975, this DC-9 jet flew as Air Force Two until 2005.
A retired DC-9 that was part of the Presidential fleet, is shown Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. the U.S. General Services Administration says the blue and white jet, which is up for auction, was part of the Air Force Two fleet and at one point may have served as Air Force One. The jet was manufactured in 1975, during the Ford administration and retired from service during the Bush administration.
Matt York/AP
The jet was first used by President Gerald Ford's vice president, Nelson Rockefeller.
It featured a VIP cabin with 10 seats and a main cabin with 32 first-class seats.
A retired DC-9 that was part of the Presidential fleet, is shown Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. the U.S. General Services Administration says the blue and white jet, which is up for auction, was part of the Air Force Two fleet and at one point may have served as Air Force One. The jet was manufactured in 1975, during the Ford administration and retired from service during the Bush administration.
Matt York/AP
The plane was retired from service during the Bush administration in 2005 and put up for auction by the General Services Administration in 2013.
Vice President Al Gore decorated the VIP cabin with family photos.
BURBANK, UNITED STATES: US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore (L), works on his acceptance speech aboard his jet, Air Force Two, above California as his wife Tipper looks on 16 August, 2000 just before their arrival at Burbank Airport in Burbank, California. Gore is scheduled to receive his party's nomination later 16 August, 2000 at the Democratic National Committee Convention in Los Angeles, CA.
LUKE FRAZZA/AFP via Getty Images
Gore worked on his acceptance speech for the 2000 Democratic National Convention aboard Air Force Two.
The cabin also featured a clock with different time zone displays.
I clock is shown inside a retired DC-9 that was part of the Presidential fleet, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. the U.S. General Services Administration says the blue and white jet, which is up for auction, was part of the Air Force Two fleet and at one point may have served as Air Force One. The jet was manufactured in 1975, during the Ford administration and retired from service during the Bush administration.
Matt York/AP
The clock featured the time in Washington, DC, and whatever destination Air Force Two was bound for.
The updated C-32 plane most commonly used by vice presidents first deployed in 1998.
Air Force Two arrives with the US Vice-President at Orly airport outside Paris, on February 10, 2025. US Vice President JD Vance is among leading world figures expected at a global summit on artificial intelligence in Paris on February 10 and 11, 2025.
IAN LANGSDON/AFP via Getty Images
With a wingspan of nearly 125 feet, each engine features 41,700 pounds of static thrust, according to the Air Force.
As vice president, Joe Biden hung a map of the world in his Air Force Two work area.
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE - OCTOBER 7: US Vice President Joe Biden works with senior staff on Air force two on his way to a fundraiser for in Atlantic city for New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine October 7, 2009 at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
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Biden traveled over one million miles on Air Force Two during his time as vice president.
Mike Pence's staff decorated Air Force Two for his birthday in 2017.
Mike Pence celebrates his birthday on Air Force Two
@VP45/Twitter
Staffers celebrated the vice president's birthday with streamers and balloons aboard the jet.
Kamala Harris also celebrated birthdays on the plane.
Vice President Kamala Harris joins staff in wishing and singing “Happy Birthday” to Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President Rohini Kosoglu and Director of Speech Writing for the Vice President Kate Childs Graham, Monday, July 12, 2021, aboard Air Force Two en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
Harris brought cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday" to her domestic policy advisor, Kate Childs Graham, in 2021.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff traveled aboard Air Force Two, as well.
Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff fills out his March Madness basketball bracket Monday, March 15, 2021, aboard Air Force Two en route to Las Vegas, Nevada/
Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
Air Force Two is occasionally used by presidential spouses and Cabinet members.
Emhoff filled out his March Madness basketball bracket en route to Las Vegas in March 2021.
The back of Air Force Two contains 32 business-class seats for members of the press.
Vice President Kamala Harris walks to address the news media on board Air Force Two upon arriving at Nellis Air Force base on October 18, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
RONDA CHURCHILL/AFP via Getty Images
Vice presidents and staff occasionally hold informal briefings with reporters known as "press gaggles" aboard Air Force Two.
The press area features TV screens that can play cable news.
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 18: Vice President Kamala Harris walks away after speaking to the press aboard Air Force Two after landing at Nellis Air Force Base on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, NV. The Vice President spoke about the passing of the late Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who died after a battle with cancer and complications from COVID19.
Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The rear cabin also contains a galley, two bathrooms, and closets.
Vice President JD Vance has taken several international trips on Air Force Two, including to France, Germany, and Greenland.
TOPSHOT - US Vice President JD Vance disembarks from the Air Force Two with (from L) his wife Usha Vance and his children Vivek, Ewan and Mirabel as he arrives at Orly airport outside Paris, on February 10, 2025. US Vice President JD Vance is among leading world figures expected at a global summit on artificial intelligence in Paris on February 10 and 11, 2025.
IAN LANGSDON/AFP via Getty Images
In February, JD Vance visited France and Germany with his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children. He attended the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris and the Munich Security Conference.
In September, Air Force Two transported Charlie Kirk's casket after the Turning Points USA cofounder was shot and killed.
The casket containing the body of Charlie Kirk is removed from Air Force Two at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on September 11, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Wednesday in Utah.
Eric Thayer/Getty Images
Kirk was fatally shot on the first stop of his "American Comeback Tour" on September 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Air Force Two flew Kirk's body from Salt Lake City to Phoenix for burial. The vice president helped carry Kirk's casket onto the plane along with other uniformed service members. Kirk's wife, Erika Frantzve, joined JD Vance and Usha Vance on board.
Kirk was an early supporter of JD Vance's 2022 Senate campaign and pushed for his nomination as Trump's vice president. In a post on X, JD Vance called Kirk "a true friend."
"So much of the success we've had in this administration traces directly to Charlie's ability to organize and convene," he wrote.
