25. Bush Approved the Creation of the Department of Homeland Security During a Flight
Historical decisions have been made aboard Air Force One. On one flight to Berlin in 2002, President George W. Bush approved details of a proposal that created the Department of Homeland Security, a brand new department of the United States government that still exists to this day.
26. Clinton Used to Blast Jazz on Board
Given all the crazy amenities of Air Force One, one might expect a DJ to be on board, too. While this isn’t the case, President Bill Clinton made sure to play whatever tunes he wanted during long flights, the saxophonist would rock out to jazz music at an extremely high volume because of his hearing issues.
27. It Costs $56K an Hour to Operate
AF1 boasts an hourly rate most employees would gladly accept. To operate the plane, it costs $56,000 an hour.
28. Its Range Is Limitless
Part of the benefits of aerial refueling is that Air Force One has the capacity to go anywhere. Having unlimited range grants Air Force One unique power and could lend itself to a heckuva flight around the world.
29. Almost 240 Miles of Wire Run Through the Plane
Air Force One has more electronics inside it than your local Best Buy. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but nearly 240 miles of wire run through the plane. This equipment is responsible for all of the phones, screens, and communication devices that make Air Force One so intricate and powerful.
30. Journalists Used to Watch Fargo on Board
While Air Force One probably hovered over Fargo, ND once in a while, the movie Fargo was played countless times onboard. During Clinton’s 1996 bid for reelection, the press corps, and even President Clinton himself, regularly watched the Coen Brothers film, leading famed presidential journalist Helen Thomas to declare it “the record-holder of Longest Playing Film Aboard Air Force One.”
31. Clinton Got a Haircut on Board, Keeping LAX Passengers Waiting
President Bill Clinton was criticized heavily in 1993 when he got a haircut on Air Force One while it sat on the runway. The engine was running and LAX, one of the country’s busiest airports, scrambled to make sure their commuter flights didn’t land or take off until the President’s hair was adequately snipped.
32. It’s the Presidential Factor
“Air Force One” is not the name of one particular plane. It’s the name given to any plane that the President of United States is traveling at that particular moment. Basically, a radio call name was given to the plane carrying the president in order to avoid confusion with other planes traveling in that particular area. Similarly, the Army aircraft the president is traveling is called Army One, his helicopter is called Marine One.
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