Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States.<br />The world's most famous aircraft, an 800,000-pound flying fortress that extends the power of the White House into the skies, just got a step closer to the assembly line.<br /><br />On Tuesday, the Trump administration confirmed a handshake deal with Boeing for the next Air Force One and its twin decoy for $3.9 billion.<br /><br />The current U.S. Air Force planes (VC-25A), which are highly modified Boeing 747-200 series aircraft, have served the presidency since 1990 as "airborne Oval Offices" and are quickly reaching the end of their lifespan.<br /><br />"The Boeing 747-200 ceased production in 1987 and is no longer operated in the U.S. commercial passenger-carrying industry. The Air Force is the only remaining domestic operator," according to a U.S. Air Force statement.<br /><br />What's more, the replacement parts for the current Air Force One jets are diminishing and therefore becoming an "ever-increasing problem that will continue to worsen."<br />"Obtaining and delivering two Presidential mission-ready 747-8s (VC-25B) is an important step to ensure enduring and global transportation for the President of the United States."<br /><br />Under the Air Force's Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program, the three-leveled leviathans will undergo modifications in 2019 and replace the current aging planes by 2024.<br /><br />While the specific security details of the next presidential fleet are shrouded in secrecy, the U.S. Air Force says the modifications to the VC-25B will be similar to the current VC-25A capabilities, albeit with significant upgrades to navigation and communication platforms.<br /><br />Here are a few features of the undisputed queen of the skies.<br /><br />The aircraft's interior sprawls 4,000 square feet.<br />Air Force One has a conference room, dining room, an Oval Office, a bedroom and bathroom for the president, as well as offices for senior staff members.<br />The aircraft has a medical room and a separate operating room to handle medical emergencies.<br />Air Force One also comes with its own doctor.<br />The galley can produce prepare up to 2,000 meals.<br />The plane is equipped with encryption and scrambling devices for secure air-to-ground communication.<br />There are 85 phones for classified and unclassified use.<br />It features armored windows.<br />Each exit is equipped with its own staircase so that crew do not have to depend on foreign assets.<br />The new plane will be 18 feet and 2 inches longer, and will weigh 142,000 lbs more.
