Air force One, with President Barack Obama aboard, takes off from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. President-elect Donald Trump wants the government's contract for a new Air Force O
Air force One, with President Barack Obama aboard, takes off from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. President-elect Donald Trump wants the government's contract for a new Air Force O
It's time for the American president to get a new plane.
On the outside, the new Air Force One (which are actually two identical jets) will maintain its iconic blue and white livery - however, the inside will be barely recognisable.
Considering the current plane was built at a time when having a fax machine on board was groundbreaking, the technology on board will get a considerable upgrade.
It was never going to come cheap. President-elect Donald Trump cast a spotlight on the project this morning, tweeting: "Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion (NZ$5.62b). Cancel order!"
However, while he slammed the deal as "ridiculous", others say it's necessary.
"It's way overdue. You can hang new engines on it, you can cram all sorts of new technology on it, but it's still a very old airplane," Joseph W Hagin, a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, told the New York Times.
HERE'S WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT AIR FORCE ONE
The twin jets are as tall as a six-storey building, with three levels and more than 370sq m of cabin space. With President Barack Obama on board, the existing Air Force One has 26 crew members and costs about $A276,589 for every hour of flight.
The Boeing 747-200s have a range of 12,550km, however, they're capable of refuelling midair and can stay in the air indefinitely.
The four enormous engines each give 56,000 pounds of thrust, and the jet is capable of flying Mach 0.855 - or 1092km per hour. Boeing claims the custom planes are the fastest passenger aircraft in the world.
United States President Bill Clinton's motorcade leaves, after his arrival on Air Force One at Auckland International Airport. Photo / Brett Phibbs
According to the White House, the on-board electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and the advanced communications equipment allows the President to run a war from the air if America ever comes under attack.
It's an impressive machine, however, it's becoming outdated.
The current jets were commissioned by Ronald Reagan, and delivered during the administration of George H.W. Bush.
At the time, it was a big deal to have access to a fax machine in flight - and the installation of white phones for regular calls, and beige phones for secured conversations, was exciting.
That technology cannot compete in the age of smartphones and search engines.
THE JET IS AN 'UNRIVALLED FLYING FORTRESS'
In terms of security, however, the plane has no equal -Business Insider went as far as describing it as an "unrivalled flying fortress".
Mirrors on the wings can be used to scramble infra-red missile guidance systems, and there are flares to confuse enemy missiles. There's also an electronic defence system located in the top of the plane that can jam enemy radars.
Aside from having armoured windows, the body of the plane is designed to withstand a nuclear blast from the ground.
President Barack Obama boards Air Force One during a refueling stop. Photo / AP
While you won't see a parachute deck like the one in Harrison Ford's movie Air Force One, there are extra emergency exits located underneath the plane, in front of the wings, with retractable staircases.
In terms of business, the President has an office in the pointy end of the plane, and there's a private suite for him and the First Lady.
By all accounts the "Situation Room" sounds remarkably similar to the one used by Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet in the West Wing.
There are quarters for senior aides, Secret Service officers and guests, as well as an office that doubles as a medical suite and operating room, for use by the plane's doctor.
The two galleys can feed 100 people per sitting.
FOR PASSENGERS, IT'S LIKE FLYING FIRST-CLASS
Katie Zezima from theWashington Postsaid it's a lot like flying commercial.
"The inside of the cabin is, well, the cabin of a plane, but with some much nicer touches, like real towels and hand lotion in the bathroom," she wrote.
"The press sits in what amounts to a first-class cabin (comfy large leather seats)."
She says the biggest perk was the snacks.
"Even on a short flight to New York we got a light meal (French onion dip and small pieces of toast with cheese melted on them!). Then there are baskets of fruit and candy for the press to nosh on."
Air force One, with President Barack Obama aboard, takes off from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. President-elect Donald Trump wants the government's contract for a new Air Force O
Peter Marquez wrote on Quora: "It's very comfortable - huge seats, desks and tables for working. A full conference room with flat screens and video teleconferencing capability. There's a computer room with internet access."
When they're retired, they'll be housed at the national museum of the US Air Force in Ohio, where nine of the previous presidential planes are housed.
