Is Obama's plane capable of self-defense?

Special features of Air Force One

Because Air Force One is the president's special airplane, and because some of its flights are quite long, it has many special features that commercial airliners do not have.

The crew prepares meals in two fully equipped kitchens. Large quantities of food are stored in refrigerated facilities on the lower level of the airplane. The crew can serve meals to about 100 people at a time, and the storage area can hold up to 2,000 meals.

The medical facilities on board the aircraft are highly technical. The medical room has plenty of spare medicines, emergency room equipment and even a collapsible operating table. The plane also has a random doctor who follows the president wherever he goes. On every mission, the plane is prepared for every kind of emergency that might occur.

Unlike a regular 747, Air Force One has its own retractable staircases for entry through the rear and front doors. These stairs lead down to the lower level, while flight attendants and staff access the upper level via an internal staircase. "Air Force One also has its own baggage handling equipment. With this additional equipment, the airplane does not have to use airport facilities, thus avoiding certain security risks.

The airplane's most notable feature is its electronic equipment. It has 85 onboard telephones, a selection of two-way radio transceivers, fax machines and computer connections. It also has 19 televisions and various types of office equipment. Its telephone system is specially set up to meet the requirements for ground connections and secure lines under standard atmospheres. The President and his staff can also talk to anyone in the world while flying 10,000 meters in the air.

The on-board electronics also include about 383 kilometers of wiring (twice the length of the average 747 fuselage). The extreme shielding is strong enough to protect the wiring and critical electronic equipment from the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear explosion.

Another special feature is the aerial refueling connection equipment. Like the B-2 and other fighters, Air Force One can be refueled in flight, ensuring that the aircraft can stay in the air for extended periods of time in the event of an emergency.

The most intriguing parts of the aircraft, including the advanced electronics and defense systems, are classified. The Air Ministry claims the planes are undoubtedly military aircraft, designed to defend against air attacks. Also the planes are equipped with electronic countermeasures (ECM) to block enemy radar detection. They can also spray flash signals to deflect heat-tracking missiles. "Air Force One flights

Every flight of Air Force One is a military operation and is treated as such. The Air Force Flight Group at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland scrutinizes the condition of the aircraft and the airport runway before each flight.

When it's time to go, Marine One helicopters take the president from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base. At this point, all flight crews at the base are alerted to any unauthorized aircraft in the airspace and can open fire as soon as they are detected.