As the commander-in-chief of the three U.S. armed forces and a symbol of U.S. national power, the president's travel safety has always attracted much attention. In order to allow the President of the United States to travel normally and get the best rest experience, since 1943, the United States has equipped a special plane for the President, Franklin Roosevelt is the first president in the United States to enjoy the treatment of a special plane, and the special plane he took was the 314 "Dicy Flying Clipper" developed by Boeing. The current US President's special aircraft "Air Force One" is two VC-25A aircraft put into service in 1990, which was modified from Boeing's 747-200B large passenger aircraft and has been in service for more than 30 years.
It is reported that although the appearance of "Air Force One" is not much different from that of ordinary passenger aircraft, its internal configuration is worlds apart. "Air Force One" is fully equipped and luxuriously decorated, which can be called the "White House in the Air" for mobile. Its interior is divided into two major sections, the lounge area, which has the bedroom where the president and his family and White House employees sleep, and two kitchens where you can cook food. In the office area, there is an oval office, equipped with various video equipment, projection screens, maps, telephones and televisions, etc., allowing the president of the United States to contact the outside world at any height, send and receive mail, and give orders.
Of course, as a presidential plane, in addition to comfort, the biggest consideration is safety. It is reported that the "Air Force One" is equipped with the world's most advanced electronic countermeasure system, which can carry out electromagnetic interference by enemy radar and has the ability to evade missile attacks. Even if a nuclear explosion occurs, in a complex electromagnetic environment, the communication equipment of "Air Force One" can still operate normally. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with a medical center, equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and experienced medical personnel, who can perform surgeries on the plane, as well as other emergency operations, to ensure the health of the President of the United States and his entourage.
In fact, Air Force One is not only a means of travel, but also a temporary operational air command center of the United States, some of which functions similar to the E-6B Mercury, the "doomsday nuclear aircraft" of the United States. It is reported that the self-sustainment of "Air Force One" is 12 hours, and if the air refueling is carried out, the self-sustaining force can be increased to 72 hours. Although the comprehensive performance of "Air Force One" is still relatively advanced, with the upgrade of the special aircraft of other leaders around the world, Trump has also started the upgrade of "Air Force One" during his tenure. And it's not a minor fix, it's a new generation.
Recently, the new "Air Force One" was exposed by the US media. It is reported that the new "Air Force One" is deeply modified from Boeing's 747-8 large passenger aircraft, using four new engines jointly developed by Boeing and NASA, which can output 120 tons of thrust. And the specially designed engine, with its better noise control and fuel performance, can provide a more comfortable ride for the president of the United States. The improvement of fuel performance has increased the range from the previous 11,000 kilometers to the current 14,000 kilometers under the same fuel load capacity.
The all-new Air Force One is being built in San Antonio, Texas, at a cost of $5.3 billion each, and is expected to enter service in 2024, the end of Biden's administration. Trump didn't get a chance to enjoy the new Air Force One, and he wondered if Biden would take the last chance.