Interesting information about Air Force One

In theory, any aircraft carrying the US President is also called Air Force One. However, since the mid-20th century, people often use this name to refer to aircraft specially equipped for the purpose of transporting one of the world's most important leaders. There are now two Boeing 747-200B taking turns "Air Force One" with tail codes of 28000 and 29000 , respectively, and the military name of this aircraft is VC-25A .

Boeing 747 is redone

The 7 47 Air Force One is easily recognizable in blue - white with the "United States of America" ​​line , the American flag and the President's seal. Almost when the plane flies, people can know what it is and who is carrying it. The VC-25 was completed in 1986 and had its first flight in 1987. However, due to difficulties in installing the communication system, the two planes had to wait until 1990 to start the table. delivered to the president under George HW Bush.

Air Force One has a floor area of ​​370 square meters like a Boeing 747, it also has 2 main compartments and 1 luggage compartment, however the compartments have been greatly redone to cater for the President's move. entourage and guests or press circles. Usually the President will go up with the front door, while the other passengers go to the back door. The seats of these passengers are like the first class of commercial Boeing 747s.

Air Force One has a floor area of ​​370 square meters like a Boeing 747.

The front part of Air Force One is called the "White House" . It is the President's working and resting place, including 2 long armchairs that can be converted into beds, with wash basins, showers, and sanitary facilities. In necessary situations, the President of the United States can fully control the country from the air. In fact, this capability was only added after the 9/11 attacks, when President Bush had to fly down to Barksdale air base to solve the problems. Nearby was a large conference room with a TV set for US government employees to meet while flying.

Interestingly, there is a small medical room on the VC-25, which has an operating table, emergency supplies and equipment, as well as a medicine store that is always filled. Particularly in George W. Bush's period, he also had a jogging car in place to exercise. Every time Air Force One takes off, there is at least 1 doctor and 1 nurse to follow the President. Air Force One itself can provide everything needed in long flights, typically food. Food prepared in 2 kitchens, freshly prepared and not boxed, the total number of employees on the plane can cook up to 100 meals at a meal. The president will of course have his own menu.

Air Force One itself can provide everything needed in long flights, typically food.

When a President expires, he will be transported from Washington DC to his home on the VC-25. At this time, the aircraft will no longer be called "Air Force One" because it simply is not transporting the incumbent president, instead it is only named Special Air Mission 28000.

Modern technology

The Boeing 747 Air Force One has a capability that normal 747s don't have: aerial refueling. As a result, it has a very long flight, when it is almost finished, refuel and then fly again. Only after nearly a week did the aircraft land down to lubricate the engine, which could not be done when the plane was in the sky. When landing, the lower door of the plane can be opened and there are ladders available for the president to step down. In this way, Air Force One's team will not need to depend on the airport's ladder system.

When it comes to transporting the US President, Air Force One is likely to become the target of the enemy. So, Air Force One possesses the ability to fight heat-seeking missiles by shooting flares to distract missiles.The entire wire on the plane was about 383 kilometers long (yes, you didn't read it wrongly), twice that of a normal 747. All are shielded to avoid damage due to electromagnetic pulses even when the aircraft is under nuclear attack. Air Force One's exterior is also specifically designed to withstand waves emitted from an underground nuclear explosion.

The Boeing 747 Air Force One has a capability that normal 747s don't have: aerial refueling.

The aircraft also has wave breaking systems to interfere with the enemy's radar, chaff system (launching a small cloud of metal or plastic blocks) to avoid radar-controlled missiles. On each wing, there are two lights mounted near the body, but they are also two devices that interfere with infrared signals to avoid infrared guided missiles.

On aircraft with small arsenal of ammunition and ammunition available, they will normally be stored in a separate area in the agent's room. Each cabinet has a different locking mechanism to enhance security. Up to now, there have never been any agents to use this arsenal, but it is always checked and supplemented, replaced to be available when needed. Many other details related to ammunition on airplanes were not disclosed for security reasons, except that windows were bulletproof.

As mentioned above, Air Force One carries in itself the necessary information communication systems for the President to run the whole country even when flying. It has a satellite connection system, an Internet signal, all of which are highly encrypted to ensure no confidential information is leaked out. Americans even call Air Force One a mobile command post that can be used by the President when the country is attacked. There are 85 phones on the plane, which is white as the normal line, the red one is the security line.

Serving the president since sitting in a chair until his death

The VC-25A was also used to transport spirits of deceased presidents. The passenger area of ​​the aircraft has removable tables and chairs and it will be placed in the coffin. President Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford were carried on the SAM 28000 and 29000 from Washington to the burial place. Colonel Mark Tillman, pilot of Air Force One under George W. Bush, said: "We will take care of the presidents since he started entering the White House until he lay down."

During Ronald Reagan's funeral in 2004, Tillman said the crew had adjusted the plane to resemble when Reagan was President, the coat was also covered on the seat to help them "feel like home." ". A type-like hydraulic lift used by airlines will take the President's coffin from outside into the aircraft. The tradition of placing the President's coffin in the main compartment began with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, at which time the crew did not agree to let his coffin lie in the luggage compartment.

Future

The Boeing 747-200B is too old and is no longer effective in terms of operating costs. The US Air Force is studying alternative solutions, including the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 . On January 7, 2009, the US Air Force announced the preparation of an alternative aircraft ready for operation in 2017, then two more in 2019 and 2021. Airbus said that assembling only 3 aircraft in the US will not be financially reasonable, so only Boeing is interested in providing the new Air Force One aircraft and believes that they want to use the 787 to deliver into service.

In 2015, the US Air Force announced that it chose Boeing 74708 as an alternative to the VC-25.

On January 28, 2015, the US authorities announced that they chose Boeing 74708 as an alternative to the VC-25. By May 10, Boeing was licensed to carry out the first design activities. After that, the US government adjusted the contract when it only bought 2 747-8 instead of 3 units as before. Boeing was also tasked with finding ways to reduce costs for Air Force One in many stages, from maintenance, refueling to communications.