University Park Airport Ideal Destination for Slimmer Air Force One
The President and members of his staff and cabinet, including Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, arrived at University Park Airport aboard Air Force One, a Boeing C-32.
Now this isn’t the plane most people would expect when they think about Air Force One. Sure it has the same paint job as its VC-25A counterpart, but the plane used Thursday is significantly smaller than the version pictured in films like Air Force One.
Though the C-32 is more often used as Air Force Two when it transports Vice President Joe Biden, the plane President Obama used to visit Penn State is better for locales with short runways. In fact, the airfield at University Park could not accommodate the VC-25A (the typical Air Force One) even if its fuel tanks were completely empty.
Even though we didn’t get to see the Air Force One made famous by pop culture this week, the University Park airport definitely received the most important visitor it will for the foreseeable future.
Good thing the university opened a new control tower this fall— even if it’s not operating yet.
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Purchase a Subscription!
About the Author
Standing For Something Bigger: Palmer Moore’s Fight For The Kids
“The only way to beat it is to love together and move forward.”
‘It’s A Full Circle Moment For Me’: Alum Nina Royer Finally Danced In THON 2026 After Working Behind The Scenes For Years
“I think this is such a beautiful way to cap off my THON experience.”
[Photo Story] 46 Of Our Favorite Photos From THON 2026
Our photographers were in the Bryce Jordan Center for the full 46 hours to capture everything THON Weekend.
PSU Cadets to Teach Air Force a Thing or Two
This past year under the leadership of Colonel Steven Drago, the Penn State Detachment of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) developed a new way to teach Air Power doctrine and air superiority theory. Unlike the local Army ROTC detachment, future Air Force officers cannot practice some of the key skills they will need when they go active duty.