The historic Boeing 707 that served as an Air Force One for 28 years in presidential service is moving closer to its permanent home. The plane's 100-mile journey to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., begin Friday following completion of the disassembly of the plane. The project to move the plane to the Reagan Library is known as Operation Homeward Bound.

President Reagan used this airplane extensively during his eight years in the White House. Besides supporting the Reagan presidency, the aircraft also flew in service to presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and both presidents Bush. One of its last missions was flying former President Reagan home to California after he left office in January 1989.

At the Reagan Library's request, Boeing -- California's largest private employer and original manufacturer of the Boeing 707 -- agreed to lead the move of the airplane from San Bernardino International Airport to the Reagan Library. The Reagan Foundation will oversee the transport of the disassembled aircraft to the Library. Boeing is supplying all necessary resources -- equipment, tools, technical expertise and labor -- for the move to the Reagan Library.

The airplane leaves San Bernardino tonight and is expected to arrive at the library early tomorrow, June 21, after its journey on California's highways. Reassembly begins in spring 2004. The airplane, restored to museum quality, will be on public display by late 2004.

Moving the sections of the airplane to the Reagan Library will take six to eight hours.

"It has been a real honor and privilege to partner with the Reagan Foundation on this historic project," said Rudy deLeon, senior vice president for Boeing's Washington, D.C. Operations. "When Boeing built this airplane 30 years ago, we knew it would take presidents to important events that would shape our global history. This plane became President Reagan's flying White House. It is with the same pride that we had in building this airplane that we move it to the Reagan Library."

"We're excited about moving the airplane to its new home," said John Bouza a director of production operations for the C-17 program of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Long Beach, which leads the move for the Boeing team. "The disassembly process was a great team effort that included many parts of Boeing, the Library leadership and community members who wanted to help."

"President Reagan always wanted to give people the chance to see Air Force One up close because he understood the power of symbolism and the pride Americans would feel when they saw our 'airborne ambassador,'" said Mark Burson, Executive Director of the Reagan Presidential Library Foundation. "We will always be grateful to the men and women of The Boeing Company who have helped us achieve the President's dream."

The aircraft will be stored at the Library site until the reassembly process begins in spring 2004. Public viewing will be available toward the end of 2004.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Center for Public Affairs and the Presidential Learning Center. Located in Simi Valley, California the Library houses over 55 million pages of government documents and personal papers and the Museum is home to more than 100,000 artifacts chronicling the life and legacy of America's 40th President. In late 2004, a new addition will open, the Air Force One Pavilion, permanently displaying the Boeing 707 Ronald Reagan used during his eight years in office.

FMI: www.reaganfoundation.org