Saedani News: The President of the United States is recognized as the most powerful man in the world, and with such a position comes the need for frequent travel, including journeys to the farthest corners of a vast country and diplomatic meetings abroad.
According to the Science and Technology Service of Saadani News, citing Khabar Online, the history of U.S. presidential airplanes dates back to Franklin Roosevelt, but for long-distance travels, the President currently uses a modified Boeing 747-200B. This aircraft is designed to fully replace the Oval Office in the White House. In addition to a medical center and a bedroom for the President and First Lady, part of the plane is dedicated to accommodating journalists.
Boeing has designed this 71-meter-long aircraft to ensure that the U.S. President can travel comfortably to any corner of the globe. The plane's range is limited to 12,500 kilometers before needing a refuel, but it can refuel in the air, essentially giving it unlimited range. Additionally, the U.S. Presidential airplane is built to withstand an electromagnetic pulse in case the plane or the U.S. becomes a victim of such an attack.
The 747-200B only needs to land when its passengers run out of water and food. Otherwise, it contains everything a small command center needs to remain operational, including multi-frequency satellite communications and an office that transforms into a medical center.
With Boeing ceasing production of the 747, the 747-200B version is one of the last 747s in the sky and is set to be replaced. To replace the current Air Force One, the U.S. Air Force has selected the Boeing 747-8, the fastest and most advanced version of the 747. This newer model can travel more than 1,600 kilometers farther. It is longer-range than its predecessor, but this increased range comes with a downside: it cannot refuel in the air, making it a slightly less reliable command center. Moreover, this flaw could jeopardize the government's sovereignty if a coordinated attack on U.S. soil occurs. The Air Force removed this capability from the new Air Force One as a cost-saving measure.
According to The War Zone, a source close to the White House stated that the removal of this capability does not pose a problem because it is not something a president has used in the past. However, an air refueling operator on a KC-135 aircraft claimed that they have refueled Air Force One several times, which reportedly dates back to the presidency of George H.W. Bush.
The new 747-8 has features that surpass the 747-200B, including the release of 16 fewer tons of carbon dioxide per trip and flying at a speed of Mach 0.855, compared to the previous Air Force One’s Mach 0.84. There are no further details about the next generation of Air Force One, but it will certainly retain its flying Oval Office and self-sufficient command center.
