Fleet of the 2024 Presidential Election
This topic is not a place for political discussion. We are all entitled to have our own political beliefs and positions, but the IFC is not the place to talk about them. I am creating this topic because the 2024 Presidential Election is a big deal aviation wise, with each campaign having a few aircraft specially painted and utilized for the campaign cycle.
I’m sure most of us know the key players of the 2024 election, but for those of us who haven’t been following it, I’ll briefly lay out the key candidates to help keep them organized.
Donald Trump: Former President Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for President. He is a billionaire, and already had a number of private aircraft before entering the political arena.
JD Vance: Ohio Senator JD Vance is the Republican running mate for Trump.
Kamala Harris: Vice President Kamala Harris is the acting Vice President under President Joe Biden. She is the Democratic nominee for President. Harris flies around exclusively on United States Air Force aircraft because of her role as Vice President.
Tim Walz: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is the Democratic running mate of Vice President Harris.
1: Safety
Vice President Harris and Former President Trump are both under the protection of the United States Secret Service. Flying commercial simply isn’t safe enough.Governor Walz is protected by the Minnesota State Police Executive Protection Unit while in Minnesota. It’s unclear who provides his protection while out of state, but based on what I can parse together from a variety of internet forums, it’s typically private security working in tandem with local police and potentially the FBI. Senator JD Vance isn’t technically under the protection of any government security, but he does have private security courtesy of the Trump campaign.
Logistics
Campaigns move quickly, sometimes having candidates visiting 3 or 4 states in a single day. Flying commercially just isn’t practical.
Vice President Harris
Aircraft: Modified Boeing 757 - 200 (Boeing C-32)
Operator: United States Air Force
Registration: Varies
Livery: Regular USAF Executive Transport aircraft
Callsign: Air Force Two
Notes: As the sitting Vice President, Harris must be flown on US Air Force aircraft under the guard of the United States Secret Service. The Harris Campaign reimburses the Air Force for all operating costs.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
Aircraft One
Aircraft: Boeing 757 - 200
Operator: Northern Pacific Airways
Registration: N629NP
Livery: “A New Way Forward”
Callsign: Varies
Notes: This is the current aircraft used by Governor Walz on the campaign trail.
Aircraft Two
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Operator: KAISERAIR
Registration: N778MA
Livery: “A New Way Forward”
Callsign: Varies
Notes: This was the first aircraft used on the campaign trail by Governor Tim Walz, before switching over to the current 757.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff
Aircraft: CRJ-200
Operator: Tri-State Charters
Registration: N907SA
Livery: Harris - Walz
Callsign: Varies
Notes: Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (VP Harris’s husband) has used this aircraft as he flies around the country campaigning independently from his wife. However, he has been spotted a number of times flying alongside Vice President Harris on the USAF 757s.
Former President Donald Trump
Aircraft One
\
Aircraft: Boeing 757-200
Operator: The Trump Organization
Registration: N757AF
Livery: “Trump Force One”
Callsign: TF1
Notes: Trump has been flying around on his 757 since well before he entered the political arena. As a billionaire businessman, he made the opulent aircraft part of his persona, and features heavily in his campaign messaging today.
Former President Donald Trump
Aircraft Two
Aircraft: Gulfstream G550
Operator: Private Jet Services Group
Registration: N550GP
Livery: Simple blue - was briefly emblazoned with “TRUMP 2024” on the side
Callsign: Varies
Notes: Trump used the aircraft for a very brief time on the campaign trail, flying between the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado after his 757 had engine trouble. His use of N550GP stirred up a bit of controversy, as it was previously owned by Jeffery Epstein.
Senator JD Vance
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Operator: Eastern Air Express
Registration: N917XA
Livery: “Make America Great Again”
Callsign: Varies
Notes: Senator Vance flies around onboard this chartered 737-800. It has been in the news cycle a couple of times this election year, once after it made an emergency landing in Milwaukee after having an issue with the door seal, and once when it inadvertently violated the TFR around the US Capitol Building while departing DCA.
There are a few 3rd party nominees in the running, all polling under 3% nationally, like Jill Stein and Chase Oliver. They have been known to fly commercial.
