Air Force One. It’s the jet the President of the United States uses to travel the country and the globe. You’ve seen it on shows like The West Wing and Veep. But do we actually know anything about it?
It is not unexpected that the leader of the free world has an amazing plane to get him around the country as quickly as possible. But there are some pretty cool features of Air Force One that most people probably aren’t aware of. We’re here to change that, by giving you an insight into the most important plane in the United States. Here are 8 facts about Air Force One that you might not know.
1. Air Force One isn’t actually a plane.
It’s a code name. Whichever plane the President is on board is then referred to as Air Force One, for the sake of the crew and air traffic controllers. Similarly, if the President is aboard an Army aircraft, that is called Army One, and his specialty helicopter is called Marine One.
2. There are 2 identical jets.
The customized Boeing 747-200B jets are completely identical, and both are a part of the Air Force fleet. The planes are almost 6 stories tall, and the length of a city block.
3. The plane doesn’t need to stop to refuel.
Air Force One has an unlimited range, thanks to the fact that it can refuel in air. It carries 53,611 gallons of fuel, which can transport the jet halfway around the world without stopping.
4. It’s basically a flying house.
When the President is away from the White House, he can live just as comfortably in Air Force One. The jet is HUGE. It has 4,000 square feet of floor space, and three separate levels. The President has his own bedroom, bathroom, living space, and office, and there is also a gym and a conference room.
5. There is an operating room on board.
This one is mind blowing. There is a fully equipped operating room on the flight in case of emergency, and a doctor is on board every time the plane takes off. Air Force One plays it very safe.
6. The kitchen can feed up to 100 people at once.
There are two separate galleys on board. And that is good, because there are often up to 70 guests and 26 crew members on board. The typical flight manifest includes not only the President and staff, but also secret service, traveling press, and other guests.
7. The planes have extensive electronics.
This isn’t incredibly surprising in itself, but the truth is that the plane is equipped with 85 telephones, two-way radios, and computers, and there are 19 televisions on board. These electronics require 238 miles of wiring within the shell of the plane.
8. Every detail (except these) are completely top secret.
The plane is obviously off limits to most people, but even some visiting politicians and journalists have no idea what half of the layout looks like. So while there are a lot of facts about Air Force One that we know, there are parts that will never be made public.
So if you want to know more, you’ll just have to run for President.
[Featured Image Credit: wikipedia.org]
