That is to say, get rid of weapons bay or anything that is weapon related. Then use all the space available to put in all those luxuries and conference halls and stuff.
Reason I am asking is because 747 is a commercial aircraft and does not have special features to deal with any incoming threats (the Air Force One is not always accompanied by fighters, is it?)
But with B-1B's high speed (though the cancelled B-1A is better in my opinion), or B-2's unrivalled stealth tech, wouldn't it be safer to fly one of those? And they are also better representatives of US's dignity and might...
Or is it not possible just because bombers are simply too cramped for luxuries of Air Force One?
2006-11-17 08:38:22 · 13 answers · asked by Brad C 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
The internal cabin size of these aircraft is not sufficient for any type of VIP retrofitting. However to allay your fears AF1 when dignitaries are on board always has a contingent of armed fighter escorts and has plenty of on board systems and training to avoid the standard threat items like shoulder fired missiles.
2006-11-17 08:45:46 · answer #1 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Air Force One is no regular 747, besides the new one is a 777. I would think that if the prez wanted a B-2 for AF1 he'd have it done, although I don't think that there would be the room for the luxuries. The B-2 is basically a cockpit and a bomb bay. The 777, that is AF1, is equipeed with radar jammers and other evasion devises. It is never more than 2 minutes from a fighter escort. When you see a fighter escort is when they are out of range of a fighter base that would take longer than 2 minutes to launch a sortie.
A B1B or a B2 could be converted, but I doubt theat it would be.
2006-11-17 16:48:41 · answer #2 · answered by rswdew 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A - The 747s used for air force one ain't got missles, but have been heavily modified to be the safest place on earth in case of an emergency, and is always escorted.
B - It's not just intended to carry the president, but to serve as a mobile white house when needed. There is no room in a B1 or B2 for that many people and equipement.
C - By default, Air Force One can be any aircraft, even a Cessna 152. It is just a designation given to the aircraft carying the president of the US.
2006-11-19 02:31:10 · answer #3 · answered by Timothy B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Okay I know I'm not directly answering this question, but there has been some other bad information put out here that I feel compelled to correct.
When the President is aboard any aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force, that aircraft's callsign will be "Air Force One". If President is aboard any aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy, that aircraft's callsign will be "Navy One". This patterns follows suit with the rest of the armed services, (i.e. "Army One", "Coast Guard One", "Marine One". If the President is aboard a civil aircraft, the callsign will be "Executive One".
So as you can see, The executive cabinet of our government will not always fly under the "Air Force" callsign.
2006-11-18 22:31:19 · answer #4 · answered by Lew W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not enough space. When going overseas, a lot of press and staff goes WITH him, PLUS his personal retinue to Secret Service agents, PLUS whatever VIPs that are coming along, PLUS White House valet staff and such including cooks and such. NO WAY you are going to fit all that into a B-1 or a B-2, even if you take out all the bomb bays and whatever.
EDIT: A better question is why isn't the "Kneecap" a true military plane rather than a militarized civilian plane. :)
2006-11-18 00:13:24 · answer #5 · answered by Kasey C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever aircraft the POTUS is in is 1...ie Marine 1 is the helicopter only when he's on board,anyway the 747 is not just transportation,it represents the White House,therefore the luxury is necessary for state business such as diplomacy...well as close to diplomacy as W can get
2006-11-17 16:58:02 · answer #6 · answered by zskip62 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your question is somewhat outrageous, however the fact that you think AF1 doesnt have countermeasures to thwart incoming threats is also absurd. Im 99.9% positive that AF1 has chaff, flares, and many other things the public doesnt know about :)
2006-11-17 16:41:19 · answer #7 · answered by flyin_gsxr600 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything that flies is air force one while the pres is in it. The title is just a handle on the radio.
2006-11-18 18:53:25 · answer #8 · answered by mjbayunl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
any aircraft that the president is on carries the call sign "airforce one" so yes a b-1 would make a great airforce 1
2006-11-20 21:10:47 · answer #9 · answered by burgersattack 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Any plane the pres is on is called air force one, no matter if its a helo or a bomber or a 757
2006-11-17 19:22:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋