Air Force One: 'The Flying White House'

A vast array of communications systems keeps the president in contact anywhere in the world

(CNN) -- They are the ultimate executive jets.

The Boeing 747s, popularly known as "Air Force One" -- there are two of them -- are the flagships of the American presidential fleet and the envy of prime ministers and presidents across the world.

The jets bristle with state-of-the-art communications equipment, anti-missile defenses (details of which are, of course, classified) and furnishings befitting the commander in chief of the world's most powerful country -- even the seat buckles carry the presidential seal.

Other leaders and heads of state may have their own lavishly appointed personal jets -- the 747 belonging to Saudi Arabia's King Fahd reputedly has an ornamental fountain on board and China recently took delivery of its first dedicated presidential jet (complete, reports say, with satellite controlled bugging devices.)

Impressive as they may be, no jet can match the sheer jaw dropping awe that surrounds Air Force One.

QUOTE "It is a military jet in the true sense of the word" - John King, CNN Senior White House Correpsondent

On every overseas visit, the looming presence of the so-called "Flying White House" coming in to land heralds the start of a massive security, press and transportation operation that accompanies the traveling president.

Any presidential tour is a military operation, organized by the Presidential Airlift Group at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington and carried out with the precision -- and impenetrable jargon -- you would expect from the U.S. military.

Airborne convoy

The military says Air Force One is the safest aircraft in the world

Accompanying any overseas visit are at least two C-5 Galaxy heavy transport aircraft bringing with them the president's bulletproof limousine, a stand-by limo, a fully fitted ambulance, occasionally his personal helicopter and, for especially sensitive areas, several additional limos for use as decoys.

Along for the ride is a virtual battalion of secret service agents -- uniformed and plain clothed -- as well as their vehicles, and everything else the White House needs when it is on the move.

On top of that there is the press corps, a rotating core of about a dozen travel with the president in the press section on Air Force One -- sustained during the journey by M&Ms provided in custom boxes complete with the presidential seal.

On President Clinton's visit to Vietnam in November 2000 the holder of the most powerful office on the planet was accompanied by a delegation numbering well over 1,000.

Mistaken identity

The jets only become Air Force One when the president is on board

The term "Air Force One" itself is though something of a misnomer -- strictly speaking (and there is no other way to speak in the U.S. military) the name refers to the call sign for any U.S. Air Force plane used to carry the president.

On August 9, 1974 for example, shortly after Secretary of State Henry Kissenger read President Nixon's formal letter of resignation, air traffic control in Kansas received the following message: "Kansas city this is former Air Force One, please change our call sign to SAM27000."

The man onboard was no longer president and the aircraft, mid-flight, was therefore no longer "Air Force One."

Today the presidential fleet includes several aircraft, other than the two 747s, that from time to time carry the "Air Force One" call sign.

OVAL OFFICE IN THE SKY • Two Boeing 747-200s, tail numbers 28000 and 29000   • Based at Air Mobility Command's 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland   • U.S. Air Force designation aircraft VC-25A   • Total delivery cost (both aircraft): $650 million   • Current aircraft first flew as "Air Force One" on Sept. 6, 1990

The presidential helicopter, operated by the Marine Corps and often seen ferrying the president to and from the front lawn of the White House, is known as "Marine One", and on the rare occasion the president travels by Army aircraft that is known as "Army One."

The aircraft used to carry the Vice President is call sign "Air Force Two."

The term was first used by the U.S. Air Force for presidential flights in the 1950s, but the first aircraft to become popularly known as Air Force One was a Boeing 707 used by President John F. Kennedy in the early 60s.

Historic name

That aircraft -- tail number 26000 -- was also witness to perhaps the greatest historic moments of any the presidential aircraft so far.

It was onboard 26000 that Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into the presidency as he accompanied Kennedy's body back to Washington following that fateful visit to Dallas in 1963.

President Johnson was sworn into office aboard Air Force One in November 1963

The same aircraft, refitted to his tastes, was used by President Nixon on his ground-breaking visit to China in 1972 and for another visit to Moscow later that year.

The technological wizardry onboard the present 747s got wide play in the 1997 Harrison Ford action movie "Air Force One", in which the president's jet is hijacked by Russian nationalists.

However, many of the more outlandish gizmos featured in the film owed more to, shall we say, artistic license than to airborne fact.

The plane for example has no escape pod – that, at least, is what the Air Force says. Though, who knows -- they may be working on one.

Nor is it equipped with parachutes -- the massive slipstream created by a 747 means they can't be used.

Self-sufficient

Nonetheless the heavily modified jets, labeled "the safest aircraft in the world" by the U.S. military are distant technological relatives to the more run of the mill jumbos that ply the world's airways.

Built-in stairs and a host of other specially designed equipment enable Air Force One to operate independently of ground support

Air Force One, says CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King, " is a military jet in the true sense of the word."

Designed to operate as independently as possible from ground services the aircraft can fly half way around the world without refueling.

Both Boeings carry their own automated baggage loaders as well as built-in front and aft stairs enabling them to operate self-sufficiently at airports and airfields around the world.

Capable of taking in-flight refueling systems from airborne tankers the manufacturers say the aircraft has "virtually unlimited range" -- its galleys are capable of storing up to 2,000 meals at a time.

To keep the president in constant contact with staff and military chiefs back in Washington the aircraft are fitted with some 383 kilometers (238 miles) of wires, twice the amount found in a standard 747.

Nuclear shield

Before the president arrives on an overseas visit a massive airlift brings in limos, secret service vehicles and even an ambulance

All that wiring and indeed the entire aircraft is shielded against the effects of electromagnetic pulse -- a wave of energy generated by the detonation of a nuclear device that can disable unprotected electronics.

The inside of the aircraft features private accommodation, office space and a workout room for the president, first lady and family; as well as accommodation and offices for support staff and security personnel.

Also on board is a stateroom / conference rooms that can, should it ever be necessary, be converted into a fully functional airborne medical center.

Should the unthinkable happen -- somebody has already thought of it.

Of course, all this doesn't come cheap, although the actual cost of running the presidential fleet and of overseas visits is classified.

But when the president travels the world it is not always money that is the first consideration.

When the president travels it is to assert America's influence as a global superpower -- and there are few more impressive displays of America's prestige than Air Force One.