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Source: AFP
It is arguably the world's astir iconic plane, an instantly recognizable awesome of the US presidency.
But present Air Force One -- similar galore different American institutions erstwhile considered ineffable -- is getting the Donald Trump treatment.
A name, not a level
Technically Air Force One is the callsign for whichever US Air Force plane, nary substance however small, is carrying the US president.
Source: AFP
But astir people place it with the 2 heavy modified versions of the Boeing 747-200 pitchy liner that usually shuttle the US president astir the world.
The 2 existent models, called the VC-25A successful subject speak, some entered work successful 1990 during the presidency of George H.W. Bush.
With its classical bluish and achromatic livery the existent jumbo pitchy has go truthful celebrated that it adjacent spawned a Hollywood thriller named aft it, starring Harrison Ford.
Sometimes presidents usage smaller planes based connected Boeing 757s for shorter flights, dubbed "Baby Air Force One."
Presidential suite
"Big Air Force One" boasts luxury features acceptable for a commander-in-chief.
Source: AFP
The president himself has a ample suite that includes an bureau with leather chairs and a polished woody table -- a abstraction Trump utilized for a property league to motion a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico arsenic the Gulf of America.
A aesculapian suite connected committee can besides relation arsenic an operating room, should the worst happen.
There are peculiar cabins for elder advisors, Secret Service members and 13 traveling press. It has 2 galleys that tin provender 100 radical astatine a time, each connected specially branded crockery.
Special features
But the plane's main relation is keeping the US president safe.
Source: AFP
Inflight refueling capableness means it tin enactment successful the aerial astir indefinitely.
A hardened electronics strategy protects against electromagnetic pulses -- whether from atomic explosions oregon hostile jammers -- "allowing the craft to relation arsenic a mobile bid halfway successful the lawsuit of an onslaught connected the United States," the White House said.
Those communications besides support Trump perpetually successful interaction with the crushed -- and capable to nonstop societal media posts successful mid-air.
The pitchy besides has apical concealed aerial defenses, according to aviation specialists.
These reportedly see countermeasures that tin jam force radars and infrared tracking systems, positive dispensers for chaff -- metallic shavings that distract radar-guided missiles -- and flares that unsighted heat-seeking missiles.
Historic roles
Source: AFP
Inevitably, Air Force One has besides played its relation successful history.
The archetypal specially-designed jets were brought successful by John F. Kennedy successful 1962, utilizing modified Boeing 707s. One of those jets brought Kennedy's assemblage backmost to Washington aft his assassination successful Dallas successful 1963.
Then successful 2001, George W. Bush took to the skies aboard Air Force One aft the 9/11 attacks connected New York and Washington.
Trump obsession
But Trump has agelong had thing of an obsession with the statesmanlike jets.
Source: AFP
The Republican has consistently sought to upgrade them, agreeing a woody with Boeing successful 2018 during his archetypal word for 2 caller models based connected the newer 747-8 jet.
He besides dreamed up a caller colour strategy -- replacing the 1 mostly successful spot since Kennedy's clip -- with a heavy reddish stripe down the mediate of the craft and a acheronian bluish underbelly.
Trump likes the caller look truthful overmuch that helium inactive has a exemplary of it connected his java array successful the Oval Office, and showed it disconnected astatine his inauguration for a 2nd term.
But present helium has repeatedly complained astir delays and outgo overruns.
"We're precise disappointed that it's taking Boeing truthful long... We person an Air Force 1 that's 40 years old," Trump said connected Monday.
"You look astatine immoderate of the Arab countries and the planes they person parked alongside of the United States of America plane, it's similar from a antithetic planet."
One of those aforesaid Arab countries, Qatar, has present offered the United States a Boeing 747-8 from the royal household to usage arsenic a stopgap Air Force One.
But with ethical concerns and information worries astir utilizing a level from a overseas powerfulness for specified an ultra-sensitive purpose, it's unclear whether the strategy volition ever permission the ground.
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Source: AFP
