Absolutely correct. The 747 that is typically used as AF1 is a flying command center with capabilities that no other plane in the fleet has, including a lot of top secret tech for defense and communications. The president would always have that plane when outside the country, since it's a flying White House. I had a co-worker about 20 years ago who worked in that fleet, and to be chosen to be a mechanic was a huge honor, and they only took the best of the best for that assignment. He maintained a lot of the aircraft and said that the 747 (back then) was so advanced, a lot of the tech when parked was draped in black covers, so people could not see it.
That's certainly interesting to hear about the tech being covered. We know they don't cover anything on the hull, and for the various pictures while it's in use, granted we don't see everything, I would imagine there's some tech that people wouldn't know what it is.
There are areas on that plane that you need a top secret or above to even walk through. It's filled with a LOT of very sensitive surveillance gear. When AF1 is flying over a county, it's gathering a ton of signal intelligence.
Absolutely correct. The 747 that is typically used as AF1 is a flying command center with capabilities that no other plane in the fleet has, including a lot of top secret tech for defense and communications. The president would always have that plane when outside the country, since it's a flying White House. I had a co-worker about 20 years ago who worked in that fleet, and to be chosen to be a mechanic was a huge honor, and they only took the best of the best for that assignment. He maintained a lot of the aircraft and said that the 747 (back then) was so advanced, a lot of the tech when parked was draped in black covers, so people could not see it.
That's certainly interesting to hear about the tech being covered. We know they don't cover anything on the hull, and for the various pictures while it's in use, granted we don't see everything, I would imagine there's some tech that people wouldn't know what it is.
There are areas on that plane that you need a top secret or above to even walk through. It's filled with a LOT of very sensitive surveillance gear. When AF1 is flying over a county, it's gathering a ton of signal intelligence.
Great comments thanks for sharing ..