The Aircraft of MDT: C-32

Welcome to the fourteenth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

The Boeing 757-200, a narrow-body twinjet, entered service in 1983 as a replacement for the company’s 727 trijet airliner. The commercial passenger version of the 757-200 seats up to 234 people and has a range of about 4,500 miles. Over the years, several variants of the 757 have been introduced, including a stretched 757-300—capable of seating 289 passengers—and a freighter, the 757-200PF. The one version of the 757 that you’re likely to see at Harrisburg International Airport, however, is the specialized military variant, the C-32A.

A C-32A comes in for a touch-and-go at MDT.

The C-32A, in its distinctive blue and white livery, may more commonly be referred to as “Air Force Two,” though it is only properly called that when the Vice President of the United States is aboard as its senior passenger. The United States Air Force acquired the first of its six C-32As in 1998. They operated four of the aircraft until 2010, when they acquired two more, both of which had previously been in service as commercial 757s.

The primary mission of the C-32A is transport of the Vice President and the First Lady. It is also sometimes used by members of the U.S. Cabinet and U.S. Congress. And, although the President’s primary aircraft is the 747-derived VC-25, he does sometimes fly in a C-32A, particularly when taking short trips, or when the destination’s airfield cannot accommodate the larger plane. All three of the most recent presidents have flown aboard a C-32A.

Banking to perform another touch-and-go.

The aircraft’s body is that of a standard 757-200, but the interior has been specially fitted for its specialized duties. The passenger cabin of the C-32A is divided into four sections. The foremost section houses the plane’s communications center and galley, as well as a lavatory and seating for 10 passengers. The VIP stateroom is in the second section. It features two first-class passenger seats, a three-seat sofa that converts to a bed, an entertainment system, and a private lavatory. With its conference and staff facilities, the third section is the aircrafts business section. It also has seating for eight more passengers. The aftmost section consists of general seating for 32 passengers, as well as closets, lavatories, and a second galley. The plane also carries advanced communications, navigational, and safety systems.

In addition to the six C-32As operated by the U.S. Air Force’s 89^th Airlift Wing, the 227^th Special Operations Flight operates two C-32Bs. The B variant is similar to the A, but the interior is not laid out for VIP use. The C-32Bs typically wear an all-white livery and are believed to be used primarily by the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Emergency Support Team.

A C-32A at MDT.

The C-32A has flown into Harrisburg as Air Force Two, that is, for the purpose of bringing the Vice President here, but it is much more commonly seen performing touch-and-go maneuvers. The flight from the C-32A’s home at Joint Base Andrews to Harrisburg International Airport only takes 10-15 minutes, so the long runway and relatively low traffic (compared to the even closer Washington area airports) make MDT a convenient location for these practice routines. There is no announced schedule for the C-32A’s visits, but if you keep your eyes peeled while you’re here, you may get lucky!