He won't be president anymore, but Barack Obama will take one last flight on the presidential plane next week before handing it over to Donald Trump.

Outgoing presidents traditionally are allowed one final flight on the famed blue-and-white aircraft. President George W. Bush used it to fly to Midland, Texas, with his wife and family just after Obama was inaugurated.

The Obamas plan to continue living in Washington in a rented home after leaving the White House. But White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the Obamas will still leave Washington by plane shortly after Trump's inaugural ceremony.

No word yet on where they're heading.

Although the plane will be the same, technically it won't be Air Force One. That designation is used only when the sitting president is on board.

One more flight: The Obamas had been thought to have to taken their last family trip on Air Force one on January 2, when they returned from Hawaii, but will ride on the presidential plane again on January 20

Bushes say goodbye: George W. Bush used his final flight after leaving office to take his wife Laura, mother Barbara and father, former president George H.W. Bush, to Midland, Texas

Start of a new journey: The Clintons were not leaving public life completely when they landed at JFK, New York, on board a VC-25 as Hillary Clinton was starting her life as junior senator from the state

The plane will be one of the AIr Force's two - identical - modified Boeing 747s, which are known as VC-25s.

It is a perk which every president has spoken of their love for flying on the plane. a symbol of both presidential office and American technological power.

Obama said of it in one of his weekly radio addresses shortly before the election: 'I’m going to be honest with you – one of the best parts of being President is having your own plane.

'And I’m going to miss it. A lot.'

Until the Monday announcement it had seemed likely that the final flight of the Obamas would be their return from the family's Hawaiian Christmas and New Year vacation.

Their younger daughter, Sasha, is a student at Sidwell Friends School in the capital and is likely to have school as normal on the Monday after the Obamas leave the White House.

Their new rented home is in Kalorama, just two miles from their current one in the White House residence.

The right to a final flight had, of course, been used by other departing presidents.

In 2009, George W Bush took a Marine helicopter flight to Andrews Air Force base with his wife Laura, and his parents - former president George H.W. Bush and former first lady, Barbara.

Farewell to all this too: Unusually Donald Trump is giving up a plane by becoming president - in his case his personalized Boeing 757

Lap of luxury: Air Force One might be a step down for the president-elect - his own plane has personalized gold seat belts

HOW DO THEY MEASURE UP? Air Force One A customized Boeing 747-200B, bearing the words 'United States of America' and the President's seal Top speed of 563mph and room for an entire West Wing of presidential advisers A mobile command center, 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, a medical suite/operating room, two food preparation galleys which can feed 100 people Trump's plane A Boeing 757-200, which was bought in 2011 and kitted out at a cost of $100m, it is embossed with the legend 'Trump' Top speed of 500mph and space for 43 passengers Marble and gold bathroom, 24-carat gold-plated seatblets, a video lounge with 57-inch screen and sound system similar to a 'top Hollywood screening room' Advertisement

In 2001, Bill Clinton, his wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea flew to New York's JFK airport to start a new life in Chappaqua, New York.

Hillary Clinton had just won her first election to become the junior senator for New York. Her re-election in 2006 was her second and final election victory.

And in 1989, Ronald Reagan flew from Andrews to Point Mugu Naval Air Station near the Simi Valley home to where he and Nancy retired.

Unusually for inauguration day, the incoming First Family are also losing the use of their plane, in this case Donald Trump's personalized Boeing 757.

Although the narrow-bodied jet is significantly smaller than a 747, it is likely to prove a step down in terms of luxury.

Trump will have to give up his personalized decor in favor of that of Air Force One - leaving behind his gold-plated seatbelt with the Trump crest.