• Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon flew Air Force One, known as SAM 970.
• The first jet-powered presidential aircraft included an office and a safe for nuclear codes.
• The retired aircraft, used from 1959 to 1996, is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

President Dwight Eisenhower became the first US president to travel by jet, flying in a new plane. Air Force One Airplane in 1959.

The jet, known as SAM (Special Air Missions) 970, was customized to meet the needs of the president and White House staff. It included a presidential suite, a conference room, seating for members of the press, and a safe for nuclear codes.

Retired in 1996, SAM 970 currently resides at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I visited the museum in July to tour the old Air Force One and see how presidents once traveled.

Take a look inside.