Proper Names
Q. In your last Q&A section where you addressed the proper form for names of aircraft, such as the Spirit of St. Louis , the term “Air Force One” came up. This is NOT a proper name for an airplane; it is merely the radio call sign of whichever U.S. Air Force airplane has the president on board. Many airplanes have been used as Air Force One: Ike flew in Columbine; Nixon flew home to California in disgrace in the Spirit of ’76. In each case the radio call sign was “Air Force One.” It is appropriate to capitalize Air Force One (or similarly Marine One or—recently when President Bush landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln—Navy One).
A. Fascinating! Thank you for taking the time to lend your expertise.
