Elected officials who ride in Air Force Two: Abbr. - NYT Mini-Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's NYT Mini-Crossword features a clue that tests your knowledge of U.S. government and its associated terminology. "Elected officials who ride in Air Force Two: Abbr." is a classic trivia-based clue that combines political roles with specific designations, all wrapped up with a common crossword directive.

Clue Analysis

Let's break down the components of this clue:

• "Elected officials": This immediately points us toward a political office.
• "who ride in Air Force Two": This is the core piece of trivia. While Air Force One is famously associated with the President, Air Force Two is the call sign for the aircraft carrying another high-ranking official.
• "Abbr.": This is a standard crossword instruction, telling us not to write out the full title but to use its shortened form.
• "officials" (plural): The clue uses the plural form, which is a strong hint that the final answer will also be plural, likely ending in an 'S'.

The clue asks for the abbreviation for the title of the people who use the aircraft designated as Air Force Two.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might tackle this clue in a few ways:

1. Direct Recall: If you're familiar with U.S. political protocol, you might instantly associate "Air Force Two" with the Vice President. From there, you just need to apply the abbreviation and pluralization.
2. Logical Deduction: Many people know "Air Force One" is for the President. It's a logical next step to assume "Air Force Two" is for the second-in-command, the Vice President.
3. Applying the Directives: Once you've landed on "Vice President," you must follow the clue's instructions. "Abbr." shortens "Vice President" to "VP." The plural "officials" prompts you to add an 'S', leading to the final answer.
4. Using Crossings: If you're unsure, getting one or two letters from intersecting clues can be a huge help. For a three-letter answer, even a single confirmed letter can crack the code.

Background Context

The term Air Force Two is the official air traffic control call sign for any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President of the United States. It is not a specific airplane but rather a designation that follows the officeholder. This is analogous to Air Force One, which is the call sign for any Air Force aircraft carrying the President. The most common aircraft used for this purpose are modified Boeing 757s, designated as C-32s.

Conclusion

This clue is a great example of how crossword puzzles blend general knowledge with attention to detail. By correctly identifying the official associated with Air Force Two and then carefully applying the "Abbr." and pluralization instructions, solvers can confidently fill in the grid. It's a straightforward clue for those with a basic understanding of U.S. government roles.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The clue asks for the abbreviation of a high-ranking political position.
2. Hint 2: This official is second-in-command to the President of the United States.
3. Hint 3: The full title is 'Vice President'.
4. Hint 4: The clue specifies 'officials' (plural), so the abbreviation will be plural as well.

The answer is VPS.