President’s plane visits Charleston Air Force base

Yes, that was the presidential plane you saw flying overhead today.

No, Barack Obama was not on board.

The Boeing 747 aircraft seen flying around Joint Base Charleston today is one of two VC-25As assigned to the Presidential Airlift Group, 89th Airlift Wing, out Joint Base-Andrews, in Maryland, just outside DC.

“The particular plane seen at the base recently completed a year-long heavy maintenance cycle and is currently undergoing an operational testing regimen prior to being certified for return to presidential service,” the Air Force said.

The testing includes a requirement to conduct multiple takeoffs, approaches and landings under a variety of conditions.

There are no passengers aboard the aircraft.

While the plane is a VC-25A, commonly known as “Air Force One,” the radio call sign is reserved exclusively for occasions when the president of the United States is aboard any U.S. Air Force aircraft.

Its schedule for flights here was not immediately available.