Air Force One to be Upgraded

Air Force One to be Upgraded

Air Force One is perhaps the most well-known aircraft in the world. Not only aviation enthusiasts but also ordinary people may have heard about the plane at least once through the media. 

Air Force One, in fact, is not the name of a specific plane. It is a call sign for air traffic control that refers to the aircraft of the U.S. Air Force with the U.S. president on board. Technically, any plane can become Air Force One as long as it carries the incumbent President of the United States for a flight mission. 

The current Air Force One is a special version of the 747-200B aircraft, widely known as the jumbo jet. Order for the aircraft was made during the Reagan administration and it officially started flying the commander in-chief in 1990. The former President George H.W. Bush had the privilege of using this aircraft for the first time. Since then, it has served several U.S. presidents for about 30 years until now. 

This iconic plane will retire in the near future with plans to replace Air Force One with a new plane. According to Pentagon, the new aerial transport for the president will be based on the 747-8. This aircraft is the newest version of the iconic 747 series widely used for intercontinental flights made by Boeing. Far more advanced than the 747-200B, the 747-8 is bigger and more efficient. The passenger version of the 747-8 is already used by some major airlines including Korea’s national flag carrier. 

The next-generation Air Force One will be made applying the latest technology to protect the president and the staff from external threats while in flight. The aircraft can evade heat-seeking missiles. It is also protected against the electromagnetic pulse that can cause electronic devices to malfunction. 

Also capable of refueling using in-flight refueling tankers, the airborne White House can stay up in the air for many days anywhere in the planet. 

The cost of a new 747-8 aircraft is about $368 million, but with all the features applying advanced technology, the budget needed for the project gets more and more costly. 

President Obama is also known for his affection for the Air Force One. He once mentioned that the biggest privilege of being the president is being eligible to use the Air Force One. Unfortunately, President Obama won’t be able to fly with the new Air Force One since it is scheduled to be ready for operation by 2023. The new president, if he or she gets reelected, may become the first to fly the new Air Force One during his or her second term.