Without aerial refueling, Air Force One has a range of 11,490 kilometers and can remain in the air for about 12 hours; if aerial refueling is performed, it can remain in the air for up to 72 hours, which is more than enough time to send the President of the United States to any part of the globe.
Air Force One's equipment and facilities
The U.S. "Air Force One" is a veritable "White House in the air," practicing the principle of "what the president can do on the ground, in the air as well. "The principle of", also known as the "flight of the Oval Office". There is 4,000 square meters of space on board***. The president has a "presidential suite", living room with a Simmons bed, leather sofas, high-grade carpets, electric curtains, etc.; suite also has a bathroom, shower equipment, the president can comfortably enjoy. Next door to the living room is the Oval Office of the President, there is also a studio, which is equipped with the latest video equipment, projection screen, maps. There is also a special room for the first lady and a room for senior officials on the special airplane. The center section of the fuselage is a lounge for presidential aides, reporters and other staff.
"Air Force One" on the lower space there is a large dining room and two modern functions of the "air kitchen", can meet the needs of more than 100 people at the same time. There is also a medical center on board, equipped with a collapsible operating table. All the equipment in the medical center is completely state-of-the-art, cutting-edge equipment, in case of any emergency, it can immediately play a first aid function, even more modern than the general hospital emergency room.
"Air Force One" on the collection of food belongs to the random mode, in order to ensure that the President of the food security, usually in the morning of the aircraft takeoff, or the night before the ordinary supermarket to collect, to avoid the deliberate destruction of terrorists.
"Air Force One" is also the "Pentagon in the air", as a temporary U.S. military air command center. The aircraft is equipped with a perfect communication system, can provide the U.S. President and his aides around the world normal or classified information transmission and reception. The length of various wires on board reached 3,000 kilometers, equipped with 87 telephone lines, 10 advanced computers, a large copy machine, a fax machine, as well as 57 various types of antennas. The aircraft is equipped with air-to-air, air-to-ground function of multiple pulse frequency radio communications equipment, its main function is when "Air Force One" in the encounter with the impact of nuclear explosions or foreign radio interference, to ensure the safety of the personnel on board and the smooth operation of communications equipment.
Air Force One's service
"Air Force One" is in fact two mandarin ducks aircraft, as long as the president of the main body of the flight to where the spare vice aircraft will follow to where. If the host mechanical failure, the president can always switch to the spare plane. In addition, when the President of the United States visits abroad, there is at least 1 National Intelligence Agency communications aircraft accompanied by the purpose is to monitor the possible incoming missile airwaves. In addition, there are two presidential helicopters, a number of "Hercules" military transport aircraft, as well as 10 bulletproof cars accompany. The Lincoln brand of high-grade bulletproof cars cost more than half a million dollars each.
Strictly speaking, "Air Force One" is only a symbolic title, in the U.S. Air Force, it does not distinguish between the type of aircraft and the number of aircraft, as long as it is the current U.S. President of the aircraft, are collectively referred to as "Air Force One" (that is, as long as it is). Affiliated with the U.S. Air Force aircraft, regardless of which, as long as the current U.S. President to ride, from the moment of boarding the aircraft, the aircraft that is called "Air Force One"). Today, there are more than just two Boeing 747s, but they are still called "Air Force One".
Similarly, the presidential helicopters, VH-60D, VH-3D, controlled by the U.S. Marine Corps, which come and go every day on the front lawn of the White House, are called "Marine One". The President of the United States rides in the Army aircraft, also known as "Army One", and rides in the civilian aircraft, the name of the "Executive One", but are seldom ridden. The vice president of the aircraft is called "Air Force Two". 1950s, "Air Force One" was first used to call the president's seat.
Of course, this kind of equipment doesn't come cheap. The White House has a dedicated budget to pay for Air Force One. The U.S. President's visit abroad is a good opportunity to show the comprehensive strength of the United States as a superpower, showing the prestige of the United States. And "Air Force One" is a symbol, such expenses Americans feel very cost-effective.
"Air Force One" fuselage covered with thick armor can withstand the shockwave of the nuclear bomb explosion; all windows are installed on the bulletproof glass; special aircraft there is an automatic ejection device, in case of an emergency can be automatically started, the President bounced to a safe place to land.
"Air Force One" also has the world's most advanced anti-missile system, the ECM electronic countermeasures system on the aircraft can interfere with enemy radar, confuse the missile targeting system, so that it can not lock the target. For heat-seeking missiles, "Air Force One" also has its own tricks, when such missiles come to attack, "Air Force One" can launch a large number of flares, luring heat-seeking missiles to track the bright hot flares. Therefore, it is also known as the "world's safest airplane".
Air Force One has served hard for 60 years
President Franklin D. Roosevelt took his first flight in the 1940s (a 1944 Douglas DC-4 transport). Since then, every U.S. president has had a special airplane. In the 1950s, President Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled in a special plane. Suddenly, a civil aircraft with the same code name and the presidential plane at the same time into an airspace, the ground personnel momentarily confused which is the president's special aircraft. In order to be safe, the presidential jet after a special and loud name - "Air Force One".
"Air Force One" tail part of the Stars and Stripes, the wings of the U.S. Air Force mark and abbreviations. The front hatch has a large U.S. coat of arms on the lower right side. "Air Force One" is in fact a symbolic title, it does not distinguish between the type of aircraft and the number of aircraft, as long as it is the current president's plane, are called "Air Force One".
"Air Force One" has the most advanced computers, communications, and medical equipment built in, just like the White House and the Pentagon in miniature. The President of the United States can not only office in the aircraft, but also enjoy the convenience of home-like life. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, etc., fully equipped. The President has a rather private and spacious compartment. He and the First Lady have a living room with a folding sofa bed, wooden cabinets, leather chair covers, shag carpet, and motorized curtains. There is also a bathroom with a shower, a large mirror, a basin, an electric shaving table and a modern flush toilet. Next door to the living room is the President's office, which consists of a log table and leather-covered chairs. A blue quartz clock hangs on the wall and includes the time for the continental United States, Washington, D.C., and arrival points. There is also a very modern medical center. Inside the room, there are three first class sized seats, two sleepers, a sink, a refrigerator designed to keep blood and medicines cold, and a cabinet full of medical equipment; there is also a collapsible surgical table with highly sensitive lighting. All of the equipment in the medical center is completely up-to-date and state-of-the-art, so that in case of any emergency, it is able to provide immediate first aid and is even more modern than a typical hospital emergency room. There is also a studio that includes the latest video equipment, projection screens, map hangers, and any other necessary amenities for a conference room. On the ornate dining room table there is a thick slab of wood construction set into the tabletop, under which are hidden wires with recording equipment and a system of ready jamming to ensure secure communications and clear telephone conversations. The special airplane includes two places with kitchen functions, both of which house microwave ovens, ovens, and so on. Of course, for the sake of safety on the airplane, these devices are specially designed not to cause danger. The airplane is fully equipped, and everything the White House staff does on the ground, they can do in the air as well. Most interestingly, the TV screens inside the plane can receive programs from all over the world. Moreover, there is such a television set in every compartment. If you want to watch the video of any program, you just have to pick up the phone next to your seat and inform the concerned person to receive the program.
The interior of this presidential airplane contains 87 telephones, 10 computers, a photocopier large enough to supply a law firm, a fax machine, and 57 antennas, with two telephones for each seat. The white telephones are for general use, while the beige telephones are a noise-filtering discriminating voice communication system with extremely clear telephone sound. In the Upper House cabin, there was a person in charge of these external communication operations. A wall of electronic equipment operates the complex communications network of the entire airplane. Simply pick up the phone next to your seat and the operator will answer immediately. These telecommunication devices can quickly reach around the world to anyone you want to talk to, including the fact that even if you don't have the other person's phone number at hand, the operator will go out of his way to check for you to get through.
Protection on Air Force One
The United States has made so many enemies in the world that the President of the United States has become a prime target for international terrorism. As a result, Air Force One has arguably the most advanced anti-missile system in the world. Air defense personnel sitting in front of the workstation equipped with a variety of electronic displays and screens, can monitor all the space around the aircraft. Once the missile attack is detected, they immediately activate several sets of electronic jamming system, inducing the missile to change direction, thus ensuring the safety of "Air Force One". In addition, when "Air Force One" landed on the runway taxiing, the president and members of the delegation could observe the scene of welcoming crowds at the airport through satellite television. When the plane is parked, it can become the communication command center for the president and the delegation.
Usually, before the president boards the plane, the security services always send a team of personnel to check and mark the airplane's fuel in case of sabotage. Another team will also check the runway, and if there is any danger when the president boards or disembarks, these people will immediately shoot. In addition, every time "Air Force One" before taking off, there is another aircraft, often loaded with the president's luxury bulletproof limousine and a large pile of light weapons and ammunition. Of course, every time the president goes out, there will always be a military officer to help him carry the famous "suitcase", through the suitcase of the button device, the president can be in the United States suddenly suffered an attack on the order of launching nuclear bombs to fight back.
Relationships with China
Air Force One first set foot on Chinese soil on Feb. 21, 1972.
Performance of Air Force One
To call Air Force One "the White House of the air" is an understatement. It is in a state of readiness for takeoff 24 hours a day; 18 crew members and the most sophisticated instruments, so that it can be at any time, anywhere and the White House for the closest contact; all the services required by the President, it can provide. Arguably, U.S. Air Force One is the most sophisticated and destructive aircraft in the world. The current use of the two Boeing 747-200B "Air Force One" special aircraft is President Reagan ordered by the Boeing Company to manufacture, they were delivered in 1991, the cost of 410 million U.S. dollars. The new Boeing 747-200 was designed for the President's personal use. Since September 2001 alone, the plane has flown more than 170,000 kilometers with the President of the United States. The plane is six stories high, can carry 25 staff members, is as spacious as a regular airliner that seats 75 passengers, and can carry about 2,000 meals on a single takeoff. The cabin is about 1,000 square meters, with plenty of room to walk back and forth, sleep, stretch out, and eat, exactly like a fancy office. In the event of a military emergency, this "Air Force One" will be immediately protected by electromagnetic radar equipment, all cables will be stopped immediately. In addition, a special, unrecognizable ground-type metal screen would cover all the windows so that the aircraft itself could not be easily detected and tracked. The plane also has the ability to be refueled in the air, allowing it to continue to fly without having to land on the ground to refuel. At the President's command, Air Force One can take him wherever he wants to go and give him the best possible service.
The current Air Force One
The current President of the United States, Barack Obama, has a new Air Force One, which he is using to fly around the world. Obama's "Air Force One" is also a Boeing 747, a Boeing 747-200B, product number VC-25A, with a speed of 1,014 kilometers per hour, flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters, and an endurance of more than 10,000 kilometers. The aircraft was officially put into service from August 1990 onwards.
Technical parameters:
Length: 70.4 meters, longer than a soccer field.
Height: 19.4 meters, equivalent to the height of a 6-story building.
Space: 371.6 cubic meters of internal space.
Weight: over 400 tons.
Air surface: the total area of space inside the aircraft is 4000 square meters. The main cabin surface reaches 370 square meters, with a hall that can be used as a meeting room or a dining room. The President and the First Lady have their own dedicated rooms.
Speed: 1014 kilometers per hour.
Pilot: To be a pilot of Air Force One, you need to have at least 2000 hours of worldwide flight experience and a flawless flight record.
Safety: With an impeccable safety record, it is considered by Americans to be the safest airplane in the world.
Seating: Usually journalists sit at the back of the cabin and the President's entourage sits at the front. The more important the person, the closer they sit to the president.
Wingmen: In practice, there are always two presidential jets called Air Force One, numbered together, with tail numbers 28000 and 29000.
Airports: Parked at Andrews Air Force Base, 16 kilometers away from the White House.
Defense: it is a fully customized aircraft with highly classified defense systems, including anti-missile systems.
COMMUNICATIONS: There are 87 different telephone lines on board, 28 of which are tapped-proof, with unlimited range.
Memorabilia: There are many things on board that bear the presidential insignia, including seat belts, pillows, blankets, teacups, bath towels, napkins and razors.
Air Force One disturbance
A spare Air Force One plane, escorted by F16s, flew low over the southern tip of Manhattan and circled the Goldman Sachs Building near Jersey City, N.J., on the morning of April 27, 2009. The F16s flew low over the southern tip of Manhattan and circled the Goldman Sachs building near Jersey City, New Jersey.
Many New York office workers thought that the "September 11th" terrorist attack reappeared, and have fled the office building to seek shelter. A number of buildings have been evacuated. Officials later announced that it was just a photo shoot.
There are reports that the flight that disturbed the people was just to take some "souvenir photos" of Air Force One. The White House had also planned a second photo shoot next month with the capital Washington as the backdrop.
Later, the White House chief of staff and an executive director of the White House military office came out for a press conference. The former conveyed Obama's outrage, saying the president had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.