Presidential Travel: A Fleet Of Airplanes Takes Flight

The number of planes that travel with the President of the United States varies depending on the situation. The term Air Force One is commonly used to refer to the primary presidential aircraft, but it can also refer to any Air Force plane that the President travels on. Since 1990, the presidential fleet has consisted of two highly customised Boeing 747-200B aircraft. These planes are specially modified to meet the security and logistical needs of the President and their staff, including the ability to refuel in-flight. In addition to the two primary Air Force One planes, the President also has access to other military aircraft such as helicopters (called Marine One) and backup planes. The President's motorcade and limousine are operated by the civilian Secret Service.

Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747-200

The use of specific military aircraft to transport the president arose during World War II when military advisors became concerned about the risks of using commercial airlines for presidential travel. The first dedicated aircraft proposed for presidential use was a C-87A VIP transport aircraft, intended to carry President Franklin D. Roosevelt on international trips. However, due to safety concerns, the Secret Service refused to approve the aircraft for presidential use. Instead, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster was reconfigured for presidential transport duty and was used by Roosevelt and his successor, Harry S. Truman.

In 1954, the "Air Force One" call sign was created after a Lockheed Constellation carrying President Dwight D. Eisenhower entered the same airspace as a commercial airline flight using the same flight number. Since then, the Air Force One designation has been used for any USAF aircraft carrying the president, although it is most commonly associated with the primary presidential aircraft.

The current Boeing VC-25As entered service in 1990 during the administration of George H. W. Bush. There are two highly customized VC-25A aircraft in service, with tail numbers 28000 and 29000. These aircraft feature modifications such as increased security, advanced communication systems, and the ability to operate as a military command centre. The VC-25A can accommodate more than 70 passengers and has a range of 7,800 miles (12,600 km) without refuelling. The interior designs were created by First Lady Nancy Reagan and feature themes reminiscent of the American Southwest.

The VC-25As are scheduled to be replaced by two new aircraft based on the Boeing 747-8I, designated VC-25B. These new aircraft will be retrofitted with the necessary security and telecommunications equipment to meet the requirements of the presidential aircraft.

The plane has two identical models

The plane has three decks, providing 4,000 square feet of internal space. The spacious quarters include a living area with beds, a private bathroom and shower, a Situation Room, and a presidential office. The office is large enough to accommodate a mobile treadmill, which is kept in the cargo hold and brought up for exercise during long-haul flights. The plane also has an onboard medical facility and two kitchen galleys. The kitchen galleys are equipped to serve carefully prepared meals to up to 100 people, and the staff keep a supply of groceries on hand to cater to the president's preferences.

The plane is designed to function as a de facto bunker, capable of repelling airborne missiles and equipped with a special electronic defence system to jam enemy radar. It can also refuel in-flight, with a special fuel cap on the nose of the plane that can connect to a gas pump on another Air Force plane while cruising above. This feature would only be used in an emergency situation. The plane is almost supersonic, with the ability to fly at over 600 miles per hour, or 92% of the speed of sound.

It can refuel mid-air

When the President of the United States travels, the aircraft they are on is designated Air Force One. This call sign is used for any Air Force aircraft carrying the President, while any Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President is designated Marine One.

Air Force One is capable of refuelling mid-air. This means that the aircraft has an unlimited range and can carry the President wherever they need to go. This capability is essential for the aircraft to play its part in the "continuity of government" mission, which includes operating in demanding situations such as a nuclear apocalypse.

The current pair of VC-25A-modified 747-200s, commonly known as Air Force One, can receive fuel in flight from an aerial tanker such as the Boeing KC-46. This allows the jumbo jets to have extended flight times and ensures that the President does not have to set foot on the ground, exposing themselves to potential dangers.

Despite having the ability to refuel mid-air, there is no record of Air Force One ever being refuelled while the President is on board. The decision to omit aerial refuelling capability from the new Air Force One aircraft was made by the White House, citing fiscal constraints and the fact that the capability has never been used by a President in flight.

The new Air Force One aircraft, based on the Boeing 747-8, will not have the ability to refuel in mid-air. This decision has been met with some criticism, as it may limit the aircraft's ability to ensure the President's safety and security during a major crisis.

It can fly at 92% of the speed of sound

When the President of the United States travels, they do so aboard Air Force One, a highly customised Boeing 747-200B (VC-25A) aircraft. The speed of Air Force One is a closely guarded secret, but it is known that it can fly at 92% of the speed of sound, or Mach 1.8. This speed is more than twice that of present commercial jets and will allow the President to travel long distances more quickly and easily.

The ability to fly at such high speeds is due in part to Air Force One's high-speed jet technology. This technology was first introduced to the presidential fleet during Eisenhower's second term, when the Air Force procured three Boeing 707-120 (VC-137A) jet aircraft. These jets enabled the President to travel long distances more quickly and facilitated face-to-face meetings with world leaders.

The current presidential aircraft, Air Force One, is a modified, long-range Boeing VC-137C Stratoliner. It has been in service since 1990 and has served Presidents from Kennedy to Clinton. The aircraft features a distinctive livery designed by Raymond Loewy, including a polished aluminium fuselage and a colour scheme of steel blue, water blue, and gold. The interior of the plane has been designed to accommodate the President's needs, with a sleeping area, radiotelephone, and retractable battery-powered elevator.

In addition to Air Force One, the President may also travel in a variety of other vehicles, including military transports for international travel and civilian Secret Service-operated vehicles for domestic motorcades. The presidential state car, often referred to as "Cadillac One" or "The Beast," is a limousine operated by the Secret Service. There are at least ten limousines in the presidential fleet.

It has 87 phones

Air Force One, the aircraft that carries the President of the United States, had 85 telephones installed all over the plane. These were replaced in 2012 with new Airborne Executive Phones (AEPs), which are capable of making both secure and non-secure calls from a single handset. The AEPs are provided by military contractor L-3 Communications and are customised to match the interior of the plane. The phones have a light on the back of the handset that glows red for secure calls and green for non-secure calls. The previous phone system, dating back to the Reagan administration, consisted of two different phones, one for secure and one for non-secure calls. Each of the new phones probably cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The idea of designating specific military aircraft to transport the president arose during World War II, when military advisors were concerned about the risk of using commercial airlines for presidential travel. The first aircraft obtained specifically for presidential travel was a Douglas Dolphin amphibian delivered in 1933. The first president to fly in an aircraft while in office was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who travelled on a Pan Am-crewed Boeing 314 flying boat to the 1943 Casablanca Conference in Morocco. The "Air Force One" call sign was created in 1954, after a Lockheed Constellation carrying President Dwight D. Eisenhower entered the same airspace as a commercial airline flight using the same flight number.

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