Coffee, tea or Clinton?

Reno, Nevada: Team Clinton has unveiled a new campaign plane - and with it, an honorary member of the flight crew.

"My name is Hillary, and I'm so pleased to have most of you on board," Hillary Clinton announced over the public-address system of the 737 aircraft before it took off on its maiden voyage from Las Vegas to Reno on Wednesday.

Welcome to Hil Force One. Or HF1, for short.

"FAA regulations prohibit the use of cellphones, BlackBerrys or other wireless devices that may be used to transmit negative stories about me," she said. She warned her guests, a couple dozen reporters, members of her Secret Service detail and aides, to keep their seat belts on even after the light had been turned off. "Things can get awfully bumpy when you least expect it."

Onboard banter between candidates and the press corps is a time-honoured tradition: Bob Dole rolled oranges down the centre aisle of his plane, back toward the reporters' section, during takeoff; George W. Bush dubbed his plane "Great Expectations" on his first flight of the 2000 campaign; Al Gore, during that same race, once made a trip back to the press section to reminisce about climbing Mount Rainier as the national landmark passed underneath.

Clinton had until Wednesday avoided too much mingling with her press contingent. Her decision to travel with the ink-stained masses, albeit in the first-class section, came as part of an effort of late to be more accessible. Still, she did not wander too far off message, even in jest. "In the event of an unexpected drop in poll numbers, this plane will be diverted to New Hampshire," she said. Clinton then promised to deliver her "stump speech, in its many variations", as in-flight entertainment. "We know you have choices when you fly, so we are grateful you chose the plane with the most experienced candidate."