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Navy One
Navy One
Navy One
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S-3B Viking "Navy One" at the National Naval Aviation Museum.

Key Information

Navy One is the call sign of any United States Navy aircraft carrying the president of the United States.[1]

There has only been one aircraft designated as Navy One: a Lockheed S-3 Viking, BuNo 159387, assigned to the "Blue Wolves" of VS-35, which transported President George W. Bush to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of San Diego, California, on 1 May 2003. The pilot was Commander John "Skip" Lussier, then VS-35's executive officer; and the flight officer was Lieutenant Ryan "Wilson" Phillips.[2] The S-3 used for the flight was retired from service and placed on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, on 17 July 2003.[3][4]

When President Donald Trump boarded the USS George H.W. Bush pierside at Naval Station Norfolk on October 5, 2025, he said the ship would "be Navy One, like Air Force One" for the day.[5]

A Navy aircraft carrying the vice president would be designated Navy Two.

See also

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References

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Navy One

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Navy One is the radio call sign of any carrying the . The designation follows the protocol established for other presidential transport call signs, such as for Air Force and for Marine Corps helicopters, ensuring secure communications and identification during flight operations. Unlike those more frequently used designations, Navy One has been invoked only once, on May 1, 2003, when an S-3B Viking antisubmarine warfare jet, Bureau Number 159387 from squadron VS-35, ferried from the USS to after his onboard speech marking the conclusion of major combat in . That aircraft, painted in a distinctive blue and white livery for the mission, was retired shortly thereafter and is preserved at the in , as the sole historical example of Navy One.

Definition and Call Sign

Origins and Protocol

The protocol for designating military aircraft call signs when carrying the President of the United States originated from a near-miss air traffic control incident on March 25, 1953, involving President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Lockheed Constellation, which shared the call sign "Air Force 8610" with a commercial Eastern Airlines flight operating in the same airspace near Washington National Airport. To prevent future confusion and ensure unambiguous identification, the U.S. Air Force established a standing policy that any of its aircraft transporting the President would use the call sign "Air Force One," superseding its standard identifier only while the President was aboard. This approach was formalized as a security measure to prioritize presidential flights in civilian and military airspace, with air traffic controllers granting immediate precedence and restricted access. The protocol extends analogously to other U.S. military branches, assigning "Branch One" call signs—such as "Navy One" for Navy aircraft, "" for Marine Corps aircraft, or "Army One" for Army aircraft—whenever the President is onboard, regardless of the specific airframe. For Navy aircraft, "Navy One" activates upon the President's boarding and deactivates upon departure, reverting to the aircraft's routine and operational status; this ensures seamless integration with procedures while elevating the flight's priority under joint Department of Defense and guidelines. No permanent modifications or dedicated fleet exist for "Navy One," unlike the specialized VC-25A aircraft for "," reflecting the rarity of presidential travel on non-Air Force platforms. In practice, "Navy One" has been invoked only once, on May 1, 2003, when President boarded a Lockheed S-3B Viking (Bureau Number 159387, from squadron VS-35) at , , for a 45-minute flight to the USS Abraham Lincoln in the to mark the end of major combat operations in . The S-3B, primarily an anti-submarine warfare jet introduced in 1974, underwent no alterations for the mission beyond standard carrier operations protocols, underscoring that the call sign denotes temporary presidential transport rather than a unique asset. This singular use aligns with the protocol's contingency nature, as presidents typically rely on or Marine Corps assets for routine air travel.

Distinction from Other Presidential Call Signs

Navy One serves as the radio exclusively for aircraft transporting the , with the "Navy" prefix denoting the specific responsible for the flight. This contrasts with analogous designations for other branches: "" applies to aircraft, "" to aircraft, and "Army One" to aircraft, each incorporating the service's name to indicate operational authority and jurisdiction. The branch-specific naming protocol originated from post-World War II practices to avoid confusion in radio communications, particularly after a 1953 incident involving President Dwight D. Eisenhower's aircraft nearly colliding with a commercial flight sharing the same tail number. Unlike generic flight identifiers, these call signs activate only upon the President's boarding, overriding the aircraft's standard military designation to prioritize presidential transport and ensure seamless integration with , military escort protocols, and secure communications unique to each service's assets. In cases where the President flies on non-military or civilian-operated aircraft, the call sign shifts to "Executive One," further distinguishing it from branch-affiliated designations and underscoring Navy One's limited applicability to Navy-controlled fixed-wing or rotary-wing platforms. This framework maintains operational clarity across services, as Navy aircraft differ in design, range, and mission profile from Air Force long-haul jets or Marine short-range helicopters, necessitating tailored security and logistical adaptations.

Historical Usage

Pre-Call Sign Era Instances

Prior to the first documented use of the "Navy One" call sign in 2003, no sitting U.S. President is recorded as having flown on a fixed-wing United States Navy aircraft for official travel. The protocol for military branch-specific call signs, such as "Air Force One" or its equivalents, originated in 1953 following a mid-air incident involving President Dwight D. Eisenhower's aircraft, but Navy fixed-wing assets were not utilized for presidential transport in that era or earlier. Presidential aviation primarily relied on Army Air Forces (later U.S. Air Force) planes from Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1943 transatlantic flight onward, with no evidence of Navy jets or propellers serving in this capacity despite the Navy's extensive fixed-wing operations. This lack of precedent stems from the division of roles among military branches: Air Force aircraft handled long-range VIP missions, while Navy aviation emphasized carrier-based antisubmarine warfare, reconnaissance, and fleet support rather than executive transport. Marine Corps helicopters, designated "Marine One" since 1957, covered short-haul presidential trips, including to ships, but these fall outside Navy fixed-wing purview. Presidents visiting aircraft carriers at sea typically arrived via helicopter or when vessels approached shore for surface transport, avoiding the need for arrested landings on Navy planes. No archival records from Navy histories or presidential travel logs indicate exceptions, underscoring the rarity of inter-branch substitutions for high-profile executive flights prior to modern contingencies.

Modern Designations and Flights

The call sign "Navy One" was applied to a U.S. Navy S-3B Viking for the only recorded instance of its use on May 1, 2003, when it transported President from in , , to the USS . The , Bureau Number 159387, performed a carrier arrested landing on the , marking the first time a sitting U.S. president arrived on an via a fixed-wing Navy plane. occupied the co-pilot's seat during the 45-minute flight, accompanied by Lt. Ryan Phillips. No other flights under the Navy One designation have occurred, as presidential air travel predominantly utilizes or Marine assets.

Aircraft and Operations

Primary Aircraft: S-3 Viking

The is a twin-engine, turbofan-powered, designed primarily for (ASW) and surface surveillance missions. Introduced to U.S. service in 1974, it replaced the propeller-driven S-2 Tracker and represented the Navy's first jet-powered ASW platform, featuring advanced sonar, magnetic anomaly detection, and acoustic processing systems operated by a crew of four. Over its service life, which extended until 2009 for ASW roles, the S-3 demonstrated versatility in electronic warfare, , and , with more than 180 units produced. In the context of Navy One operations, the S-3B variant achieved historical distinction as the sole fixed-wing aircraft designated with the presidential call sign. On May 1, 2003, Bureau Number 159387, operated by Sea Control Squadron 35 (VS-35) "Blue Wolves," transported President George W. Bush from Naval Air Station North Island, California, to the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in the Pacific Ocean. Bush occupied the co-pilot seat during the flight, marking the first instance of a sitting U.S. president arriving on an aircraft carrier via fixed-wing aircraft since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. The aircraft, temporarily reconfigured for VIP transport without specialized presidential modifications beyond standard security protocols, landed aboard the carrier to facilitate Bush's "Mission Accomplished" address to sailors and Marines. This event underscored the S-3's carrier compatibility, a core design feature enabling short takeoff and landing cycles critical for naval operations. Post-flight, the S-3B Viking continued limited service before retirement, with BuNo 159387 preserved at the in , as a testament to its unique role in presidential aviation history. No subsequent Navy has borne the Navy One designation, rendering the S-3 the primary—and only—type in this capacity. The mission highlighted the aircraft's operational reliability, with its TF34-GE-2 engines providing the necessary thrust for carrier approaches, though its ASW origins were not directly relevant to the transport role.

Operational Protocols and Modifications

The designation of "Navy One" as a applies to any U.S. carrying the , activating automatically upon boarding to ensure unambiguous identification during interactions and military operations. This protocol aligns with established practices for service-specific presidential transports, coordinated by the , U.S. Secret Service, and relevant military branch to prioritize security, communications integrity, and rapid response capabilities. provides expedited clearances, positive control from takeoff to landing, and supplementary security such as guarded facilities and , extending FAA directives for presidential movements to Navy assets. In the single documented instance of Navy One usage, on May 1, 2003, an S-3B Viking (bureau number 159387) from squadron VS-35 transported President from , , to the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), approximately 200 miles offshore. Preparations involved squadron-level coordination for crew selection—comprising a pilot, , and support personnel vetted by —and temporary exterior markings reading "Navy One" on the tail and ", " below the cockpit. The flight, lasting about 45 minutes, followed standard Navy carrier approach procedures, including an arrested landing that marked the first such event for a sitting U.S. president. No permanent modifications were implemented on the aircraft for the Navy One role; the S-3B retained its standard anti-submarine warfare configuration, including ejection seats for four crew positions and sensor equipment in the rear compartment. Temporary accommodations likely involved repositioning or stowing acoustic and non-acoustic sensor stations to provide seating for the president and a limited entourage, such as a photographer, without altering the airframe, avionics, or propulsion systems. The S-3B's prior upgrades under the 1980s Service Life Extension Program and 1987 weapons enhancements—improving radar, electronic warfare suites, and Harpoon missile integration—supported general operational versatility but were unrelated to VIP transport. Post-flight, the aircraft reverted to routine squadron duties, including combat missions over Iraq, before its 2006 retirement and preservation as a museum exhibit.

Significance and Reception

Military and Strategic Value

The military and strategic value of derives from its role in enabling carrier-based presidential , a capability unique to U.S. aviation that lacks due to the latter's non-carrier-capable design. This allows the to access and operate from aircraft carriers positioned in , providing a mobile platform for command oversight independent of potentially contested or unavailable land airfields. Such flexibility supports in maritime domains, where U.S. carriers serve as forward bases during operations far from home territory. In practice, this value was realized on May 1, 2003, when an S-3B Viking aircraft, designated Navy One, ferried President from to the USS Abraham Lincoln in the , approximately 30 miles southwest of . The flight facilitated Bush's arrival for a speech to carrier personnel following major combat operations in , underscoring the Navy's readiness to deliver secure executive transport to deployed forces at sea. The S-3B, originally optimized for with advanced sensors and endurance, demonstrated adaptability for VIP missions through its carrier compatibility and established operational protocols. Strategically, Navy One enhances inter-service for presidential mobility, ensuring that disruptions to assets—such as attacks on continental bases—do not isolate national leadership. By integrating the President into naval operations, it reinforces joint force cohesion and signals to adversaries the U.S. military's distributed command structure, capable of sustaining from expeditionary platforms. This aligns with broader naval emphasizing sea control and global presence, where carriers enable rapid response without fixed vulnerabilities. Although used only once, the designation maintains preparedness across services for crisis scenarios requiring maritime egress or liaison.

Controversies Surrounding Key Events

On May 1, 2003, President departed the USS Abraham Lincoln aboard a Lockheed S-3B Viking anti-submarine warfare from squadron VS-35, which was designated Navy One during the flight. This marked the only recorded use of the Navy One in history. The flight followed Bush's address to service members on the carrier, where he declared an end to major combat operations in , speaking beneath a banner reading "Mission Accomplished" prepared by the ship's crew to commemorate its return from deployment. The event sparked significant controversy, as the ongoing Iraqi insurgency, sectarian violence, and extended U.S. military presence—lasting until 2011—belied the optimistic tone, leading critics to portray it as a premature and misleading victory claim. Bush administration spokespeople emphasized that the president had specifically referenced the conclusion of major combat phases rather than the entire , and the banner was not an official production. Political opponents, including Democrats and media outlets, frequently invoked the imagery during the 2004 election and beyond to question the administration's candor on Iraq's challenges. Additional criticism targeted the theatrical elements of Bush's arrival via C-2 Greyhound (designated Codename One) and departure on Navy One, including his wearing of a , as unnecessary grandstanding amid wartime operations. Naval personnel involved defended the preparations as routine morale-boosting for the crew after nine months at sea, while some analysts noted the event's alignment with Bush's pre-presidential experience as a in the . No security breaches or operational failures were reported in connection with the Navy One flight itself.

References

  1. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/explore/collections/aircraft/s/s-3b-viking--navy-one-.html
  2. https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/only-one-navy-aircraft-has-been-designated-navy-one-to-fly-the-president/
  3. https://www.deseret.com/2003/7/17/19735690/bush-s-navy-one-takes-final-flight/
  4. https://www.history.com/articles/who-was-the-first-president-to-fly-on-air-force-one
  5. https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a20916/visual-history-air-force-one/
  6. https://www.liveabout.com/presidential-aircraft-and-call-signs-3357025
  7. https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/21168/do-presidential-aircraft-use-additional-call-signs
  8. https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/97477/why-do-presidential-flights-have-special-call-signs
  9. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/potus-flies/
  10. https://www.history.com/articles/air-force-one-timeline
  11. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2024/february/presidential-helicopters
  12. https://www.quora.com/Do-any-presidents-ride-on-aircraft-carriers
  13. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-b/bush-george-h-w.html
  14. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/05/images/20030501-15_d050103-2-664v.html
  15. https://www.airzoo.org/cold-warjet-age/airplanes-6/s3bviking
  16. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/naval-aircraft/current-aircraft-inventory/s-3-viking.html
  17. https://www.military.com/equipment/s-3b-viking
  18. https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/450056p.pdf
  19. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/foa_html/chap5_section_1.html
  20. https://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/05/01/bush.carrier.landing/
  21. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/needs-opportunities-modern-history-us-navy/us-navy-role-national-strategy.html
  22. https://millercenter.org/americas-war-in-iraq/mission-accomplished-moment
  23. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/05/04/mission-accomplished-was-a-massive-fail-but-it-was-just-the-beginning/
  24. https://fpa.org/bush-never-said-mission-accomplished/
  25. https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2014/05/01/mission-accomplished-11-years-later-a-short-history-of-presidential-gaffes/
  26. https://airvectors.net/avs3.html
  27. https://avgeekery.com/watch-that-time-the-president-logged-a-trap-on-an-aircraft-carrier/
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