How Air Force One Can Defend the President from Attack

Business Insider has a piece on the how the President’s plane can defend itself.

Air Force One — technically whatever plane the President is onboard but currently a Boeing 747-200 (and eventually a new 747-8) — costs over $200,000 an hour to operate. Speaking of ‘operate’ there’s an onboard operating room staffed by a doctor whenever the plane is inflight.

Etihad’s ‘The Residence’ has nothing on Air Force One, whose President’s quarters includes not just sleeping quarters and a shower but also a gym.

There’s 4000 square feet of interior space. The President has an office, there’s a ‘situation room’ and a staff quarters.

Air Force One has the following defense capabilities:

• “Mirror-ball defense technology in the wings scramble infrared missile guidance systems”
  
• “Electronic countermeasure defense systems…jam enemy radar”
  
• “Flares hidden in the wings..to confuse enemy missiles”
  
• “The body of the plane can withstand a nuclear blast on the ground”
  
• Each exit has its own retractable staircase, to avoid risk of sabotage of whatever staircase would be provided on the ground
  
• Windows are armored

When safety really matters, there’s no involvement by the TSA.

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