NGC Has The Hottest Inauguration Ticket In Town ― A Seat On Board Air Force One And Marine One For The Presidential Transition Flight

In a Turbulent World, the Presidential Airlift Group Must Be Ready for Any Contingency

"We have zero failure, we cannot fail."
― Master Sergeant Marty Groves,
Production Superintendent, Presidential Airlift Group

On Board Air Force One and On Board Marine One Premiere Sunday, January 25, 2009 beginning at 8 PM ET/PT

As the nation prepares for the historic inauguration on January 20, 2009, the Presidential Airlift Group (PAG) also prepares for the momentous transition.  In a single day, one man will take the reins as U.S. president for the first time, while another takes his last trip with the PAG.  And National Geographic Channel (NGC) will be there, with access to President George W. Bush's final flight to Texas, in the closing chapter of the world premiere film On Board Air Force One, premiering on Sunday, January 25, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.  Then, at 9 p.m. ET/PT the same night, we'll take flight with On Board Marine One for an in-depth look at the presidential helicopter fleet.

In early 2008, NGC secured an all-access boarding pass to Air Force One and joined President Bush on a marathon tour across the Middle East.  Viewers will see the vital role the most famous plane in the world plays as the president visits six countries in this war-torn region.  NGC provides viewers the ultimate guided tour of Air Force One, which includes the president's bedroom and the top-secret communications bay, as well as introduces the presidential pilot and the tireless crew charged with operating this global command center in the sky.

Then, get a rare look at Marine One, the presidential helicopter fleet.  We'll go inside the tightly guarded gates of HMX-1, the Marine Corps' oldest and largest helicopter squadron, and see what it takes to fly the president where Air Force One can't, beyond tarmacs and runways to points across the globe.

In a turbulent world, Air Force One and Marine One must be ready for any contingency.  Each member of the president's team, from maintenance and engineering to the flight crew and presidential security detachment, is on high alert.  Each detail is critical, each mission zero fail.

On Board Air Force One
Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 8 PM ET/PT

It's undoubtedly the most famous plane on the planet and symbol of the American presidency, yet few have had the opportunity to step inside this remarkable aircraft.  No one is allowed admittance without high-security clearance, and only a handful of passengers and crew have access to the president and his private quarters.  NGC will give viewers a first-class tour of Air Force One, and introduce the man and his team responsible for transporting the president safely around the world:  Col. Mark Tillman, Presidential Airlift Group Commander.

After eight years on the job, Col. Tillman has completed countless missions, but one in particular stands out.  He shares the amazing cloak-and-dagger operation in which he secretly flew Air Force One into war-torn Baghdad unannounced for Thanksgiving in 2003.  For the first time, Col. Tillman shares the intricacies of this operation, when no one -- not even the president's own family gathered for the holiday -- knew where he was headed.

President Bush also reflects on the only time Air Force One was truly put to the test, on September 11, 2001, when it operated as a flying White House in a time of war.  As the nation was attacked, the crew aboard AF1 rushed to take flight and secure the president's safety.  Rarely does the president speak of the specific events of that fateful day, but in a candid interview with NGC cameras, President Bush recalls the actions the AF1 commander and crew took.  He says, "It became quickly apparent that this was going to be the place from which the commander in chief was going to have to (1) figure out what had happened, and (2) are there any more attacks and (3) how to make sure that the country responds to the immediate crisis as best as a president can do."

Now, as the crew prepares to embark on a trip to the Middle East, we'll find out what it takes to keep this mission, like every mission, fail-safe.  NGC invites viewers to watch alongside teams who perform microscopic inspection of the plane's engines, security advisers as they examine top-secret equipment and flight crews as they load enough supplies to feed 200 people for eight days straight.  Whether it's a quick jaunt to a small town in Middle America or a voyage to a combat zone abroad, each flight is considered mission critical.

On Board Marine One
Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 9 PM ET/PT

We'll take to the skies with the presidential helicopter fleet on a trip to the United Nations as it flies into one of the busiest airspaces in the world, making a complicated landing with Marines, NYPD and Secret Service snipers all coordinating to protect the president.  We'll find out what it takes to become an elite member of the Marine One squadron and the security risks of transporting the country's most valuable passenger anywhere at a moment's notice.

The president's never-ending schedule combined with adverse weather, knuckle-biting landing conditions and diplomatic tensions make flying Marine One choppers a monumental challenge.  Only the best of the best are invited to serve on the HMX-1 crew, and each must pass rigorous security clearances to obtain a "Yankee White" designation, the highest level for any military personnel.  We'll meet one rookie and see for ourselves some of the demanding training he must endure.  Out of 70 pilots, only four will join the squadron's commander as "Marine Ones," those chosen to fly the president.

There are 35 aircraft in the entire fleet, with four different models customized to carry the president and the necessary support materials.  But one model stands out from the rest -- the VH-3D, the president's primary helicopter, recognizable by its signature "white-top."  We'll tour the president's official seat, as well as the area of Marine One that can hold up to 15 additional passengers.  Then, visit "the cage," the most restricted part of the Marine base at Quantico, where Marine One helicopters are kept under guard by marines with permission to use deadly force.  Nothing is allowed to compromise the president's safety, and NGC gives viewers an insider's perspective on what it's like to fly, maintain and keep Marine One safe from a world of dangers.

On Board Air Force One and On Board Marine One are produced for the National Geographic Channel by Partisan Pictures.  For Partisan Pictures, producers are Peter Schnall and Don Campbell.  For the National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Howard Swartz, senior vice president of special programming is Michael Cascio and executive vice president of content is Steve Burns.