@ttyymmnn said in This Date in Aviation History: December 31 - January 3 [New Destinations]:
the first jet-powered presidential aircraft, with tail number SAM (Special Air Mission) 26000 and SAM 27000.
SAM970 (pictured!) would disagree with that statement.
SAM970/971/972 were not officially reserved exclusively for presidential travel like later Air Force Ones, but they were purchased and outfitted with the intention that would be Ike's and later presidents' travel, and served in that role.
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Ike took advantage of his new jets with a trip to West Germany, the UK, and France in late August/early September 1959, followed by an 11 nation trip through Europe, Asia and North Africa in December. He flew to South America, Europe, and East Asia the following year.
Backed by the power of jets, he visited roughly three times as many countries in his last two years as he did in his first six, and at much greater distances (his only previous destinations outside of North America as President were Switzerland and France, though he had also visited South Korea as President-Elect).