Gallery Update: Air Force One in Portland AGAIN!!!

Six months ago, an aviation geek's dream came true for me when I had the opportunity to photograph the Boeing VC-25A operating as Air Force One when the president made a brief visit to Portland! For the second time this year, the president came back to Portland, this time on a little longer visit (likely to do something with the upcoming midterm elections, no doubt!). And this time, he brought the smaller Boeing C-32A, which he utilized on a multi-day, multi-stop tour around the west coast, particularly so he could fly into a few smaller airports where the VC-25A would've been too large to handle. The president was scheduled to depart Portland this afternoon and since I haven't photographed the C-32 before, I headed up to PDX to catch the departure. No doubt this year has been a particularly momentous year of plane-spotting for me! Allow the photos to speak for themselves:

Portland (PDX)

Preview:

United States Air Force Boeing C-32A (757-2G4) (09-0016) parked on the ORANG ramp. Arrived yesterday evening as "Air Force One" from Burbank. I'm thrilled to finally lay eyes on a C-32!

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 (N934AK) arriving on 10R as ASA857 from New York-JFK.

Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-867F/SCD (B-LJI) departing on 10L as CPA83 for Hong Kong via Anchorage. Only my second time seeing Cathay Pacific's new livery!

Delivered to Cathay Pacific's cargo division in September 2012 and received the currently livery some time in 2019.

It's also unusual to see Cathay Pacific use the north runway, but was likely necessary due to security reasons with Air Force One on the south side the field.

Always a joy to catch the Queen of the Skies!

CPA83 rotating on 10L.

Airborne and kicking up some dust!

Air Transport International - ATI (d/b/a Amazon Air) Boeing 767-323/ER/BDSF (N397AZ) arriving on 10R as ATN3594 from Fort Worth/Alliance.

The reason for the C-32A being used on this multi-day, multi-stop trip is because POTUS made an initial stop in Vail, Colorado via Eagle County Regional Airport, which is a little on the small side to handle the usual VC-25A. 

United States Coast Guard Sikorsky S-70B-5 MH-60T Jayhawk (C6035) making a high-speed pass over 10R. Definitely providing some "top cover" as part of the presidential security detail, no doubt. This is actually my first time photographing a Coast Guard Jayhawk!

6035 is currently assigned to CGAS Astoria.

Air Transport International - ATI (d/b/a Amazon Air) Boeing 767-323/ER/BDSF (N251AZ) clearing 10R after arriving as ATN3468 from Baltimore.

The Presidential motorcade is on scene!

Air Force One taxiing for departure. Destination is Wilmington, Delaware, where the president will spend the rest of the weekend at his home before eventually returning to D.C.

The C-32A is based off the Boeing 757-200 modified for government VIP transport use, capable of transporting up to 45 passengers and equipped with military grade avionics.

Boeing was awarded a contract for four C-32A airframes in August 1996 and makes up a segment of the presidential airlift fleet operated by the 89th Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Andrews, which is also supplemented by the Gulfstream C-37A and Boeing C-40B.

The first C-32A was delivered to the United States Air Force on June 1, 1998. With the other three arriving later. The C-32A also fully replaced the VC-137 Stratoliner, which was kept in reserve even after the arrival of the VC-25A to serve as presidential airlift platforms into smaller airports until enough C-32As were delivered.

The C-32A primarily serves as the main means of air transport for the Vice President of the United States under the "Air Force Two" call-sign, as well as for use by the First Lady and Secretary of State.

Air Force One airborne off of 10R for Wilmington.

On occasion, other members of the president's Cabinet and members of Congress have flown aboard the C-32A for various missions. The aircraft also occasionally serves as Air Force One in place of the larger VC-25A when the president is traveling to domestic destinations that cannot accommodate the larger Boeing 747-derived presidential plane (like this particular occasion!) or if the latter is simply unavailable.

Like the current VC-25As and the VC-137s before it, the C-32A wears and maintains the Kennedy-era blue and white legacy livery designed by Raymond Lowey.

All of the C-32A airframes are fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW2000 engines, which are also used on the C-17 Globemaster III. The planes are also fitted with winglets for added fuel economy.

While the replacement program for the VC-25As are well-underway with the VC-25Bs, the C-32A's replacement is still a topic that's up in the air as Boeing has neglected the middle-of-the market since ending production of the 757 and has repeatedly shelved plans for the "New Midsize Airplane" that's supposed to be the successor to the 757.

Without a successor officially lined up, the C-32A will be around for years to come, still slated to receive planned modifications and upgrades as the type isn't scheduled to leave Air Force service until 2040. It is still seen as a very-capable mobility platform for government VIPs.

Even with upgrades and upkeep, the C-32A has been involved in some high-profile reliability incidents in recent years, which has prompted discussions regarding the type's age.

Note the antennae and fairings on top of the fuselage. 

Instead of directing funding for a direct replacement for the C-32A, the government has instead is providing nominal funding towards research next-generation supersonic transports that are currently in the works by several different American start-up companies.

It was a great pleasure to have this rare opportunity to catch this smaller aircraft from the presidential airlift fleet today!

6035 landing back over on the FBO ramp following Air Force One's departure.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-300 (N304DU) smoking the mains arriving on 10L as DAL1471 from Los Angeles. I love this shot!

DAL1471 taxiing to the gate.

Believe it or not, this is only my second time photographing a Delta A220-300!