Colombian Air Force One
| Company type | Aircraft designation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Government transport |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Headquarters | Colombia |
| Products | Presidential aircraft transport |
Colombian Air Force One (FAC-0001) designates the main aircraft assigned to transport the President of Colombia. This aircraft is a Boeing 737-700 configured as a Boeing Business Jet and is also referred to as "República de Colombia 1."
History
Throughout its history, Colombia has utilized several aircraft for presidential transport. The inaugural official presidential flight was undertaken by Pedro Nel Ospina in August 1922.
Initial presidential aircraft
The first plane specifically dedicated to presidential use was the FAC 625 Junkers Ju-52/3mge, introduced in 1933 and operational until 1950. Presidents such as Enrique Olaya Herrera and Alfonso López Pumarejo utilized this German-engineered aircraft, which featured a crew of three and could carry up to 20 passengers.
Early presidential fleets also included the Douglas C-47 Skytrain FAC 660, flown by leaders like Gustavo Rojas Pinilla and Carlos Lleras Restrepo, alongside the Lockheed C-60 Lodestar FAC 654, employed by Alfonso López Pumarejo.
In 1954, the Douglas C-54 Skymaster FAC 613 (later renumbered FAC 690), manufactured in the United States, was introduced. This aircraft served multiple administrations until it was retired in 1971.
Fokker F-28
The Fokker F-28, produced in the Netherlands, entered service on February 19, 1971. It transported presidents from Misael Pastrana Borrero through Álvaro Uribe Vélez. A notable mission involved carrying the remains of former President Guillermo León Valencia from New York to Popayán.
During Pope John Paul II’s visit to Colombia in 1986, this aircraft was used and adorned with his coat of arms alongside those of Colombia and the FAC emblem.
In 2005, an attempted FARC assault targeting this plane while President Uribe was aboard was successfully prevented just before landing in Neiva.
Currently bearing the registration FAC 0002, this jet is assigned to the vice president and other high-ranking government officials.
Boeing 707
Known as Zeus, the FAC 1201 is a Boeing 707 added to the presidential fleet in 1983 for international and transatlantic travel. It addressed the Fokker F-28’s shortcomings related to range and engine performance.
This aircraft transported presidents including Belisario Betancur, Virgilio Barco, César Gaviria, Ernesto Samper, Andrés Pastrana, and Álvaro Uribe on overseas trips.
Boeing KC-767
The Boeing KC-767 designated FAC 1202, nicknamed Jupiter, was acquired during Juan Manuel Santos’ administration. Capable of carrying up to 210 passengers and costing approximately $40 million, it joined the fleet in 2013 as a replacement for the FAC 1201 “Zeus” on international missions. Notable deployments include Santos’ journey to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo (2016) and Iván Duque Márquez’s attendance at COP26 in Glasgow. Beyond presidential transport, it serves roles as a tanker, cargo transporter, and for humanitarian efforts such as repatriating Colombians from China amid the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.
Boeing Business Jet
After more than three decades of service, mechanical deterioration led to plans for a new presidential aircraft beginning in October 2002. The Colombian Air Force reviewed proposals from aerospace manufacturers based in Canada, Brazil, France, the United States, and Airbus.
By 2004, the selection was narrowed down to either a Boeing Business Jet—a customized Boeing 737 designed for corporate and governmental use—or an Airbus A319 ACJ. Ultimately, the government opted for the Boeing Business Jet, procuring an aircraft originally built in 1999 for an Arab sheikh who canceled his purchase; at acquisition, it had only logged 22 flight hours.
The total investment approached $40 million, with $29 million allocated for the aircraft itself and additional funds covering interior modifications.
This jet has since been utilized by Presidents Álvaro Uribe, Juan Manuel Santos, Iván Duque, and current President Gustavo Petro.