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The most recognizable aircraft in the world has tons of secrets, or at the very least, tons of untold facts. Air Force One is more than just a big, fancy looking private jet for the POTUS, it’s an advanced aerial security mechanism—almost like a floating fortress. There are a lot of things you don’t know about Air Force One. While you may have thought this airplane was cool based on the Harrison Ford movie or by virtue of being the United States presidential plane, Air Force One is guaranteed to be even cooler than you think. This list features fun facts about AF1 that combines hilarious anecdotes about presidents, statistics that will blow your mind, and an in-depth look at the crazy features that this unprecedented aircraft has inside. Here’s some stuff you probably didn’t know… 1. 4,000 square feet Yes, it’s large enough to be a house. This provides enough room for all the government officials, journalists, and everyone’s luggage, especially the First Lady’s. And, the 4000 sq' feet of floor space gives ample room for The President’s to stretch his or her legs once in a while. 2. The floor plan - 3 floors While most passenger Boeing 747s have two levels, the Air Force One aircraft has three decks. The President enters on the second level, while members of the press enter on the first floor. Normally, when you see the president in the news getting on and off Air Force One with a wave, he is using the door onto the middle deck and a rolling staircase has been pulled up to the plane. Journalists normally enter through the rear door, where they immediately climb a staircase to the middle deck. They never enter via the main door for security reasons. 3. Multiple B747S for President Did you know there are two Air Force Ones? Well, kind of. The second 747-200B occasionally trails the main Air Force One and provides backup coverage, however, the President can fly in both depending on the situation. 4. A secret Gulfstream jet One of three presidential aircraft in charge of evacuating the President during an emergency situation is a Gulfstream C-20C. If you take a gander at the Air Force’s website, however, you won’t find any mention of the C-20C. It’s incognito. 5. There is a mini-hospital onboard If the President or anyone onboard suffers a sudden injury or illness, there are medical services at the ready. Air Force One is equipped with a complete medical suite, a Doctor, and even an Operating room for top-notch medical care. 6. How fast is Air Force One? The Boeing 747 is capable of speeds exceeding 650 miles per hour. It’s believed to have flown faster than 700 miles per hour in the past. 7. Does Air Force One have a doctor onboard? Not only does AF1 have a doctor at the ready, prepared to tackle any situation. Every single time the President decides to hop a flight, an MD is on board as well. Hopefully, the President has enough to cover the doc’s co-pay. 8. How far can Air Force One fly? Pretty dang far. The 747 can soar halfway around the globe thanks to its massive fuel capacity of 53,000 gallons. As you can guess, this makes it pretty heavy. A fully loaded Air Force One would weigh over 800,000 pounds. How high can Air Force One fly? Find out by clicking "Next". 9. How high can Air Force One fly? A Boeing 747 can cruise at really high altitudes. We’re talking 45,000 feet and beyond! That’s more than 10,000 feet higher than most commercial aircraft. 10. Air Force One is nuclear resistant Air Force One is its own nuclear defense stronghold. In the event of a nuclear attack, Air Force One is not a bad place to be if you can get in. That’s because the plane’s actual body is designed and secured to withstand the blast of a nuke from the ground, rendering the aircraft a bomb shelter in the sky. 11. Air Force One can refuel in midair In-flight refueling is a rare commodity that Richard Branson would probably love to introduce to Virgin. But this is a special feature of the one and only Air Force One, which can refuel itself up to 35,000 feet in the air. An aircraft hovers closely above Air Force One and extends its hose down to attach to the plane. 12. Who else sleeps on Air Force One? POTUS isn’t the only passenger flying on Air Force One. He’s accompanied by a slew of advisors, journalists, secret service members, and senior officials. 13. There are 2 kitchens on Air Force One You’ve probably seen the tiny kitchen in the back of a regular plane (the one where the stewardess can barely grab your mini-Coke out of the mini-fridge). On Air Force One, there are two legitimately sized kitchens that can legitimately serve 100 people healthy and hearty meals. 14. There are 85 phones onboard During take-off, your phone should be turned off. That’s the usual protocol for commercial flights, but Air Force One is not anti-phone. In fact, it has upwards of 85 of them. You know, in case 84 are being used. Many of them are used simultaneously. 15. Does Air Force One have cameras onboard? Back in 1959, the aircraft got cameras placed in its wheel wells that were so strong they could distinguish license plates from nearly 30,000 feet away. This was courtesy of Secretary of State Allen Dulles—of which the Washington D.C.-area airport would later get its name. 16. Ford's Administration smuggled Coors Beer There once was a time when you couldn’t buy Coors beer in most eastern states. Unless of course, you were the President of the United States. President Gerald Ford made sure he had access to the tasty brew whenever he was on Air Force One as he had members of his team smuggle it aboard. His cover up was certainly more covert than his predecessor Richard Nixon’s. In 1959, what was Air Force One equipped as? Click "Next" to find out. 17. In 1959, it was equipped as a Spy Plane The Cold War meant all bets were off for American national security, which is the mentality that led CIA director Allen Dulles to turn Air Force One into a spy plane. The year was 1959 and, for a short time, cameras were secretly installed in the plane’s wheel wells that were so powerful they could read license plates from 29,000 feet above. 18. Broccoli-free! George HW Bush was vehemently against broccoli. While there might be enemies banned from flying on Air Force One, it was the first President Bush who imposed a ban on the real enemy: broccoli. As his chefs knew, Bush Sr. hated the vegetable more than most people hate anything, so he made a rule that it could never be served in the White House or on Air Force One. 19. President Reagan had it stocked with jellybeans President Reagan was the one who absolutely adored jelly beans during his time in office. He required there to be a bowl on Air Force One at all times. While President Bush made sure broccoli was never on Air Force One, Reagan made sure jelly beans were always on board. During both his terms as President in the ’80s, Ronald Reagan kept jelly beans in a jar in both the Oval Office and his aerial office, Air Force One. 20. Air Traffic’s Got Nothin’ on This Plane Air Force One gets priority over every other plane in the sky and AF1 pilots don’t have to worry about the amount of air traffic. In fact, air traffic at commercial airports is usually halted when AF1 takes off or lands. A lot of the time, the plane lands at military airports so it doesn’t mess with usual air traffic. 21. Radar Jamming When people label Air Force One as a “floating White House,” it’s because the aircraft is like a tank. It’s nuclear proof, able to jam radars around the globe, and its flight path is not traceable. 22. Terrorist Attack Preparations If there is a terrorist event, Air Force One will provide the necessary protection for the president and his team. 23. There’s Assigned Seating Every White House administration has its own rules about who can sit where. Still, seating is always assigned on Air Force One. Nearly half of the seats are reserved for the press pool and for Secret Service agents. 24. Over $660 Million Was Spent on Initial Production Building a plane is expensive. Building Air Force One is outrageously expensive. In its initial production alone, the “flying White House” cost $660 million and the Air Force helped pay down the bill in $140 million payments. What did approve the creation of? Click "Next" to find out. 25. Bush Approved the Creation of the Department of Homeland Security During a Flight Historical decisions have been made aboard Air Force One. On one flight to Berlin in 2002, President George W. Bush approved details of a proposal that created the Department of Homeland Security, a brand new department of the United States government that still exists to this day. 26. Clinton Used to Blast Jazz on Board Given all the crazy amenities of Air Force One, one might expect a DJ to be on board, too. While this isn’t the case, President Bill Clinton made sure to play whatever tunes he wanted during long flights, the saxophonist would rock out to jazz music at an extremely high volume because of his hearing issues. 27. It Costs $56K an Hour to Operate AF1 boasts an hourly rate most employees would gladly accept. To operate the plane, it costs $56,000 an hour. 28. Its Range Is Limitless Part of the benefits of aerial refueling is that Air Force One has the capacity to go anywhere. Having unlimited range grants Air Force One unique power and could lend itself to a heckuva flight around the world. 29. Almost 240 Miles of Wire Run Through the Plane Air Force One has more electronics inside it than your local Best Buy. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but nearly 240 miles of wire run through the plane. This equipment is responsible for all of the phones, screens, and communication devices that make Air Force One so intricate and powerful. 30. Journalists Used to Watch Fargo on Board While Air Force One probably hovered over Fargo, ND once in a while, the movie Fargo was played countless times onboard. During Clinton’s 1996 bid for reelection, the press corps, and even President Clinton himself, regularly watched the Coen Brothers film, leading famed presidential journalist Helen Thomas to declare it “the record-holder of Longest Playing Film Aboard Air Force One.” 31. Clinton Got a Haircut on Board, Keeping LAX Passengers Waiting President Bill Clinton was criticized heavily in 1993 when he got a haircut on Air Force One while it sat on the runway. The engine was running and LAX, one of the country’s busiest airports, scrambled to make sure their commuter flights didn’t land or take off until the President’s hair was adequately snipped. 32. It’s the Presidential Factor “Air Force One” is not the name of one particular plane. It's the name given to any plane that the President of United States is traveling at that particular moment. Basically, a radio call name was given to the plane carrying the president in order to avoid confusion with other planes traveling in that particular area. Similarly, the Army aircraft the president is traveling is called Army One, his helicopter is called Marine One. What symbol does the airplane stand as? Click "Next" to find out. 33. The Official Airplane standing as a Symbol of Presidency Air Force One is designed to be recognized as one of the main symbols of the presidency. It is made sure to be looked intimidating and be its presence noticed wherever it goes. Its symbol consists of the words “United States of America” , The American flag and the Seal of the President of the United States. 34. The Flying White House The onboard electronics are designed to withstand an electromagnetic pulse, the plane is equipped with electronic counter measures (ECM) to jam enemy radar so that no one can trace the flight path of the plane, 85 onboard telephones, a collection of two-way radios, It is also capable of ejecting flares to disarm missiles from enemy crafts, and the plane is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment allowing it to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States for which reason it is called as “The flying White House”. 35. The Mobile Bunker and the Safest Fleet on the Planet Earth On the terrorist attacks of September 11 of 2001, the Airforce One is showed that it is capable of performing functions as a mobile bunker when all ground positions felt insecure because of the attacks. 36. A Real Fast and High Flying Bird It can travel at a top speed of 1,126 km/hour and fly at a maximum height of 45,100 feet ( Commercial flights fly about 30,000 feet). 37. Custom Designed For the President The Airforce One is custom Designed by Boeing in design collaboration with The White House and the Secret Services. 38. The Long Range Flight for the President’s Visits around the World. It can carry about 203,000 liters of fuel and weighs 377,000 kgs when it is fully loaded for a long-range flight and is capable of flying half way around the world. 39. A Mobile Quarters for the Officers and the Staff Air Force One is also capable of providing living quarters for people traveling with the President which includes the senior advisors, Secret Service officers, traveling press, and other guests. 40. September 11th, 2001 Obviously a tumultuous day for the entire country, a lot was asked of Air Force One which can conveniently double as a mobile bunker. (Source: History In Orbit and World Lifestyle)

You searched for: presidents

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