By Ricardo J. Delpiano / Simon Blaise
VC25A Boeing, the Air Force One that brought the United States President Barack Obama on his visit to Chile. Photo: S. Blaise plane is the safest in the world and one of the most admired in every corner of the world where it lands, both in design and the role it plays: transporting the President of the United States and be the "White House in the air." Air Force One as it is commonly known, for the Boeing VC25A, a selected modified B747-200 in the late eighties by President Ronald Reagan to be the airplane symbol of the Presidency of the United States.
This aircraft has similar dimensions to those of a B747-200, but with benefits that far exceed the traditional business model of "Jumbo." The VC25A is equipped by four General Electric CF6-80C2B1 and is capable of flying to 12,600 km, but thanks to the ability to refuel in flight range is unlimited. Inside has 370 m2 of interior space with various modifications which are carefully managed for terms of security. Like all Boeing 747, the Air Force has three levels: less devoted to warehouses, cargo and supplies, the second located on the main deck where the different rooms, offices and chambers for the secret service and party, and the third or upper deck, where the cockpit and the area communications.
The VC25A can carry about 70 people, which served by traditional doors of the plane (the front reserved for the president and back to the party and the rest of the staff) and the lower doors that access the lower deck. Inside, other than staircases reported every level of the aircraft.
The VC25A began service in the early nineties and replaced the Boeing 707 that the U.S. Air Force used to transport the President. On official travel, using two Boeing VC25A: the No. 28,000 and No. 29,000.
The official visit of President Barack Obama made to Chile, the U.S. Air Force used VC25A Boeing, Boeing C-32 (B757-200) and five Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and a C-5 Galaxy in charge of bringing one of the helicopters. The American press accompanying U.S. President arrived on tour in a Boeing 767-300ER from Delta Air Lines. As usual, the Air Force of Chile contributed to the surveillance of airspace available to the F16 MLU aircraft equipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
Airport Taxiway T Santiago with four Boeing C17 Globemaster III air force helicopters Bell 412 and UH-1. Photo: S. Blaise
One of the F-16MLU of Chile's Air Force equipped with missiles and that was in charge of protecting the airspace over the arrival of the Chilean Air Force One picture : S. Blaise
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