Source: Fortune
Summary
Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, has become an essential arm of the American Presidency. The Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One are a combination transport vehicle, command center, press room, medical center, and apartment. The latest version of the presidential aircraft, presented by Qatar as a gift to President Donald Trump, lacks sophisticated countermeasures. The article explores the history of Air Force One and its impact on the presidency, from its evolution into a jet-powered aircraft in 1962 to its current role in shaping the presidency.
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The numbers tell one story. Air Force One’s transformation into a jet-powered aircraft in 1962 revolutionized presidential travel, enabling presidents to become ubiquitous players in national politics and world affairs. The aircraft’s capabilities have shaped the presidency, allowing presidents to announce themselves as statesmen abroad and revolutionizing politics at home. The clearest demonstration of Air Force One’s importance was on 9/11, when it safely transported President Bush during a national crisis. Air Force One is not just a great way to travel or a nifty gadget, nor is it peripheral to the presidency – it is central to it.
Presidential travel increased dramatically with the introduction of the jet-powered Air Force One, with presidents making more international trips and visiting international hot spots to position themselves as global peacemakers. The sight of the American president descending the stairs from Air Force One became a symbol of American diplomacy. Air Force One also enabled presidents to combine official government business with campaign opportunities, changing how Americans understood their presidents.
However, Air Force One’s problems, such as its lack of sophisticated countermeasures and communication systems faltering during a crisis, only reinforce the fact that technology shapes the presidency. The role that presidents have assumed at home and abroad, as well as the ways Americans interact with their presidents, have taken form through the possibilities – and the limitations – of presidential aircraft.
Author: Evan Null
