The C-140 is a military version of the Lockheed Model 1329 light jet transport. The prototype Jetstar was first flown on September 4, 1957, only 241 days after design completion. Production began in 1960. Although the majority of those produced were built for the civilian market, the U.S. Air Force bought 16 Jetstars as C-140As and -Bs, the first of which were delivered in late 1961. Five C-140As were assigned to the Air Force Communications Command for use in evaluating military navigation aids and operations. Eleven C-140Bs were assigned to the Military Airlift Command for operational support airlift. Six of them were flown as VC-140Bs on special government and White House airlift missions by the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB. Maryland.

The VC-140B on display carried Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter a number of times, although it was not the primary presidential aircraft. President Johnson in particular preferred this aircraft for trips to his ranch in Texas and used it often. Whenever the President was on board, it flew under the call sign "Air Force One". The Museum's Jetstar was delivered to Air Force and the 89th Airlift Wing in October 1961. It was retired in 1984 and flown to the Museum in 1985. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center provided program management for the C-140 fleet while they were in service.