NEWPORT NEWS - BARACK Obama on Thursday took his debut flight as president on his new 'spiffy ride' - the iconic blue and white Boeing 747 which serves as Air Force One.

Mr Obama also took his first trip aboard 'Marine One,' the famous green helicopter which ferries the president around on shorter trips - this time from the White House to Andrews air force base outside Washington.

The president walked to the press cabin at the back of his new plane before taking off on the short hop to Virginia, where he was due to speak to Democratic members of the House of Representatives who were holding a retreat.

'I've got my spiffy jacket so I thought I'd come and show it off,' Mr Obama said, modelling his new blue air force souvenir, bearing the presidential seal and the words 'Air Force One' and 'Barack Obama.'

'What do you think about this spiffy ride? It's not bad,' Mr Obama said, adding that he had been a guest on the presidential jet once when president George W. Bush was in office.

He also enthused about the bird's eye view of Washington on his unique flight away from the White House when his helicopter took off into the sunset on a witheringly cold day.

'The helicopter was very smooth, very impressive, you go right over the Washington Monument and then you know (it) kind of curves in by the Capitol,' he said.

'It was spectacular.' -- AFP