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Top Secret Air Force One Facts That You Never Knew

whitehousemuseum.org

Air Force One is way more than just a private jet for the President of the United States of America. There are many secrets within it that not many people know, but some information has been leaked about Air Force One that is quite interesting. Read on to find out some of those secrets.

There Are 2 Huge Kitchens in The Plane

abcnews.com

It is really interesting to know that Air Force One contains not just one kitchen, but two. These massive kitchens are always filled with food, and the president together with any guests can have any food they like. More so, the chefs are top-notch and every kitchen can accommodate a maximum of 100 people, which is pretty big.

The Plane Has a Small Hospital

ranker.com

This plane is fully fitted with all the things needed to carry out medical practice. If POTUS or any other passenger on Air Force One is injured or falls ill, a doctor is available, there’s an operating room and all other high quality medical tools and a pharmacy. More so, there is an extra reserve of blood in the refrigerator that matches the President’s blood type.

Triple-Decked And Plenty Of Floor Space

doyouremember.com

The Air Force One has 3 levels and 4,000 square feet of floor space. There is plenty of space for the President and his guests to stretch their legs while in the air. This triple-decked plane is impressive indeed!

Many TVs and Phones On Board

blogspot.com

Air Force One has 85 phones, because it is the most secure place other than the White House that the leader of the United States can talk. The Airborne Executive Phone is very secure, it has a light on the back that turns red when the line is secure. There are other lines for the other passengers to use, which have less security. There are also 20 TVs in this massive plane.

The Wheel Wells Have Surveillance Cams

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Former US President Eisenhower told the director of Central Intelligence at the time, in 1959, to put up spy cameras in the wheel wells of the Air Force One. Those cameras were so efficient that they could clearly read vehicle plates from the air. It is speculated that more cameras have been placed on the underbelly of the plane.

At times, it is accompanied by a doomsday plane

politico.com

In case something drastic happens like a meteor strike or nuclear warfare, the Air Force One is backed up. There is a 747 doomsday plane that is always on alert. This aircraft can remain in the sky for days and has the ability to outspace nuclear explosions.

Top Speed of 600 Miles/Hour

gta5-mods.com

Air Force One can be able to fly at a top speed of 600 miles per hour, which is near the speed of sound. Also, it can get to an altitude of 45,100 feet while in flight. This is impressive because normal commercial flights fly at an altitude of 30,000ft.

Refueled In The Sky

af.mil

Another cool fact about Air Force One is the fact that it can be refueled while in the air. It does not have to touch the ground to be replenished. Moreover, this plane possesses a fuel tank capacity of 3,000 gallons.

Air Force One Is Actually 2 Planes

cbsnews.com

Air Force One usually sounds like just one plane, but in actual sense, the name “Air Force One” is the radio call name for any of the 2 planes that the President uses. It all started in 1953 after the ‘Eastern Air Lines flight 8610’ entered the same airspace as President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s aircraft, called ‘Air Force 8610’ back then. In the modern day, “Air Force One” is used to refer to one of 2 planes that are uniquely designed to carry POTUS and the passengers he travels with. Two planes means that there is always one to travel with in case there is an emergency.

Flying Fortress

sliptalk.com

The Air Force One is fully equipped to ensure that the President of the United States and his fellow passengers are fully protected. The plane’s body can withstand a ground nuclear explosion, and all the windows are armored. In addition to that, there are flares on board that can be ejected to confuse missiles. Both of the exits on the plane have retractable staircases, therefore the crew does not have to depend on airport staircases which may be sabotaged by enemies.

Always In Neat Condition

cryptome.org

Air Force One has to always be in a near-perfect state in order to lessen the possibility of an accident. Teams of contractors inspect the fuel that is put in the tanks and also ensure the plane is always in great condition inside and outside. When the two planes are not in use, they are kept at the Andrews Air Force Base, which is outside Washington. They are heavily protected there by armed guards.

13 Media Members On Board

mro-network.com

The President always travels with a large entourage on the Air Force One, which includes multiple aides, advisers on security matters, economic advisers, speechwriters and many more, depending on the circumstances of the trip. You will also want to know that there are 13 media members who travel with the President too. They are actually referred to as “protective press pool”, who are representatives of radio, TV, newspapers, wire services and news sites. These journalists travel at the expense of their media companies, and have to share the information they collect with other White House press members.

Air Force One Has Been In Existence For Decades

popularmechanics.com

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Presidential Pilot Office in 1944, which was later changed to Presidential Airlift Group. For the following fifteen years, a propeller-driven plane was used to transport the president. President Eisenhower traveled to Europe on the Boeing 707 Stratoliner back in 1959. 3 years later, President John F. Kennedy was the 1st US President to travel in a jet aircraft specially made for presidential use, which was a modified Boeing 707 plane. From that time, other jets have been use specifically by POTUS.

LBJ Sworn In As President After The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy – November 22, 1963 – Dallas, Texas

time.com

In one of the most famous pictures in American history, Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in on Air Force One as the 36th President of the United States of America.  Dallas Judge Sarah Hughes is presiding along with Johnson’s wife Lady Bird and a visibly distraught Jackie Kennedy. 

Air Force Personnel And Air Force One

bjtonline.com

Air Force personnel make up the cabin crew that flies Air Force One.  These personnel are heavily screened before qualifying to be members of the crew.

Every Flight On Air Force One Is A Military Operation

npr.org

Every time the President uses Air Force One, it’s considered a Military Operation by the Air Force.  Whether it’s flying to a foreign country to meet an emissary or flying to Camp David, it’s still treated the same by the Air Force.

Air Force One Will Be Replaced In 2024

airlinereporter.com

The current fleet of two Air Force One jets have been in operation since 1990 during President George H.W. Bush’s Presidency.  They will be replaced by a new fleet of two jets by 2024 and Boeing will produce them to the tune of $3.8 Billion dollars.

Air Force One Costs Taxpayers With Every Flight

thedelite.com

It’s estimated that for every hour that Air Force One is in the air, it costs Taxpayers $206,337.  Between the fuel costs, the Military costs, and plane costs. That’s quite the bill to foot for every departure.

Air Force One Has A Lot Of Fuel

cheezburger.com

The amount of fuel that Air Force One carries is staggering at 53,000 gallons of fuel.  The President can fly from Washington DC to Tokyo, Japan non-stop, an amazing 6,735 nautical miles!

The VP Has His Own Plane – Air Force Two

wikimedia.org

The Vice President flies in his own plane, Air Force Two.  This separation of President and Vice President is due to security concerns, and also upholding the line of succession in case of assassination.

Terminals?  We Don’t Need No Stinking Terminals

navjot-singh.com

Air Force One has priority over any other airplane (commercial or otherwise) at commercial airports.  The Presidential Flyer does not use terminals, instead it stays on the tarmac when the President disembarks.  All other air traffic is halted while Air Force One is on the ground.

FDR Was The First President To Take Flight – January 14, 1943

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President Franklin D. Roosevelt boarded a Boeing 314 Flying Boat (“The Dixie Clipper”) in Miami, Florida to meet with Winston Churchill in Casablanca, Morocco during the War.  There were stops in the Caribbean and Brazil and Gambia in Africa for refuels and rest along the journey. 

Ike Was The First President To Take Jet Flight – August 1959

historynet.com

President Dwight Eisenhower was the first President to use a jet plane for travel in 1959.  A Boeing 707 Stratoliner was used to fly to Europe, jet airplanes have been used by the White House ever since.

President Ford Bootlegged Coors, Sort Of

loungtastic.com

During the Presidency of Gerald Ford, his staff would routinely stock up Air Force One with cases of Coors Beer on trips out west.  At the time, Coors Beer was only available in 11 western States.  President Ford was so fond of the beverage that he had the White House supplied with Coors due to the Air Force One “bootlegging”.

Speaking Of Beer, There Were Differences Between Air Forces One And Two

thrillist.com

Air Force One was alcohol friendly with Bourbon and Wine stocked on-board.  Air Force Two did NOT serve alcohol on-board.  

Air Force One Was Once The House Of Jellybeans

kcra.com

During the 1980’s, President Ronald Reagan was so enamored with jellybeans as a snack that he kept a supply of them on Air Force One.

Broccoli Was Once Banished From Air Force One

During George H.W. Bush’s Presidency, he hated broccoli so much that he forbid it off of the meals served on Air Force One.

Jacqueline Kennedy Spruced The Interior Of Air Force One

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During her husband’s term, Jackie Kennedy commissioned new interiors for Air Force One and was the brainchild of having a light blue color used in the process.

Miles Of Wire Run Through Air Force One

whitehousemuseum.org

Nearly 240 miles of wire run through Air Force One due to 85 phone lines and the multitude of communications equipment housed on board.

Air Force One Can Defend Itself

defensemedianetwork.com

Air Force One is fitted with defensive countermeasures in case of attack.  Flares can be fired from under the wings to throw off heat-seeking missiles.  The outer skin of the aircraft is fitted with electronic sensors that can jam enemy radar.  Air Force One can also withstand the concussive blasts of a nuclear attack with no radioactive fallout getting inside the airplane.

Journalists Have Their Own Section Of The Plane

reuters.com

A team of 13 Journalists fly with Air Force One on every flight.  Their access is only limited to one section of the aircraft as you would need certain security clearances and credentials to access the two other sections of the plane.

Presidential Limousine Also Flies Too

southreport.com

The Presidential Limousine flies ahead of Air Force One on a C-141 Starlifter Cargo Plane to land first.  This allows the President to walk off of Air Force One to his waiting limo no matter where in the world he flies to.  

There Were Two Predecessors To Air Force One

britannica.com

President Kennedy was the first President to fly on what was called “Air Force One” in the early 1960’s.  Two previous Presidents also had their own personal airplanes for travel to and from the White House.  In the 1940’s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the “Sacred Cow”, a Douglas VC-54 C outfitted with an elevator lift for the President’s wheelchair.  President Harry S. Truman had the “Independence”, a Douglas VC-118 named after his hometown in Missouri in the 1950’s. 

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Daughter Overwhelms Parents Restaurant With Customers By Posting On TikTok

Renee Yates

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A seven-second video posted on TikTok by Jennifer Le has saved her parents’ Vietnamese pho restaurant from going out of business. In the video, Le showed the empty restaurant and her dad looking sad at the register. She then asked for social media’s help to keep the restaurant in business. The restaurant is in California and was doing ok before the pandemic, but has since had trouble getting customers to dine in.

The video went viral, and within hours, it had garnered millions of views and shares. People all over the world were touched by Le’s message and began sharing the video on their social media accounts. The response was overwhelming, with people expressing their support for the restaurant and their willingness to help.

As a result of the video, the restaurant was flooded with customers, many of whom had never heard of the place before. The increased business allowed Le’s parents to keep the restaurant open and the phones are ringing off the hook. The family was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and expressed their gratitude to everyone who had shared the video and visited the restaurant.

Le’s video is a perfect example of the power of social media to effect change. In just seven seconds, she was able to capture the attention of millions of people and inspire them to take action. The video also highlights the struggles faced by small businesses during the pandemic and the importance of community support in keeping these businesses afloat.

Le’s video has since become a source of inspiration for many people who are struggling with similar issues. It serves as a reminder that even the smallest actions can have a significant impact, and that we all have the power to make a difference in our communities.

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Massive Sandcastle Built by Auckland Brothers Impresses Scores of Beachgoers

Kevin Wells

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When you have run out of Christmas ideas, nothing beats going to the beach and letting your creative juices flow. That’s what two brothers in New Zealand did this past Boxing Day and ended up with an amazing and eye-catching sandcastle.

After building a massive sandcastle on Boxing Day, two Auckland boys gained praise from other people around Mt Maunganui’s beach area that day.

Jared and Paul Brandon spent 10 hours that day building a two-meter-high sandcastle, beginning with a sketch of the structure “on a piece of A4 paper” and beginning at high tide. The pair plans to turn this into a Boxing Day ritual.

On Christmas Eve, the brothers started strategizing on how to top last year’s one-meter-high tower on Boxing Day 2021.

Because Jared and Paul are “very competitive,” they wanted to outdo their performance from the previous year. Before beginning their construction, the two searched online for sandcastle designs after visiting Bunnings to get tools, buckets, as well as a footrest.

Both residents and visitors have expressed admiration and astonishment at the beautiful creation.

Jared chuckles, “A guy is assessing how tall it is currently with his beach umbrella.

Jared informed the media, “This one is 2 meters, so we needed a few footstools to climb up tall enough and also used a builder’s level so it didn’t topple over.

The 150-liter pail was the biggest we were able to use, and the traditional household bucket was a fairly small one. We purchased them both from Bunnings.

Paul explains, “There are a few techniques, such as two portions of water to one portion of sand.”

Then came the spatulas to shape the windows, then toothpicks for creating the roof piles, as well as the straws for blowing off the “extra sand.”

The previous night, the two worked on it until 8 p.m., and unlike last year, it is still standing.

“Time went by incredibly quickly; it seemed like we were only at the beach for five hours, instead of ten.” “Paul spoke to the press.

He claims that while working for a California hotel plus learning how to construct sandcastles as a kid-friendly activity, he acquired the skill there about eight years ago.

“Now that he’s used that knowledge and developed it, he taught me. Therefore, for the previous four to five years, whenever we had the time, we would construct a sandcastle once a year ” says Jared.

The two, who are both camera operators, intend to go much further next year and are hoping to enlist the aid of a larger family.

We will attempt to teach my sister as well as my brother-in-law to assist us as they appear interested this year. “We are striving to dredge up more relatives to get involved in creating a village in 2023.”

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Man Finds $47,000 Historic Ring

Renee Yates

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England is very much metal detector country. The land outside the big cities is stuffed full of artifacts and leftovers from ancient times, ranging from before the Romans’ arrival to the Middle Ages and more. So, it’s not surprising, with the blessing of local farmers, that many a fellow with a metal detector is out there spending a Saturday or Sunday scanning through a fallow farm field to see what might be found. As it turned out, David Board was one of those hunters, and he just happened to come across a very small gold ring in one of his ventures.

Located outside of Dorset, Board was busy scanning a pasture field and had been doing so for hours. The sun was late in the sky, and Board was about to wrap up when his machine pinged a definite metallic substance under the soil he was waving the sensor over. Sure enough, pinpointing the location and then digging specifically into that spot, Board unearthed a very small gold ring.

It was in the farm soil, the ground typically tilled for planting, but this particular field had been used for cattle instead. So, five inches underground, the ring remained until Board found it and pulled it back into the daylight. At first, he chalked up the discovery to just another piece of metal from old times, he cleared off the dirt, pocketed the ring and kept going. Then, at the end of the day, Board went home and washed off his finds in the sink. It was only then that he realized what that ring actually was.

While the method of metal detecting in England gives archaeologists utter heart attacks every time they hear a similar story, the finds are generally split between the metal detector and the farm owner, unless the farm owner just waives off the matter and lets the hunters keep whatever they find. Whichever the case in this instance, the ring was no small trinket. It turned out to be an exceedingly well-crafted and rare gold wedding ring from the Medieval period and in very good condition. To be auctioned off later this year, the find is expected to net between 30,000 to 47,000 British Pounds.

The only surprise to anyone hearing the story in England these days is why the local farmers still allow detectors to scan their fields without any stake in the finds.

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Gold Miners Dig Up a Lot More than Ancient Gold

Kevin Wells

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Gold miners are used to finding all sorts of things from ancient times. It’s not uncommon to find relics of prior miners, old habitats, animal remains and even dinosaur fossils as they dig deep into the earth or excavate large areas. However, it’s not an everyday occurrence to find a practically intact mummy of a baby mammoth.

Based on the estimates possible on first evaluation of the mummified baby mammoth found on June 21 by operations at the Klondike gold deposit, way up in the northern part of Canada, miners discovered a baby female mammoth assumed to be probably 30,000 years old. An occasional dinosaur or mammoth bone is uncommon but a regular occurrence. However, finding a complete set of remains of a baby mammoth is extremely rare and a big news in the world of paleontology and biology. Even better, the specimen is practically complete. Most times the remains have been tampered with by other animals or hunting and scavenging. Then nature moves things around even further and separates parts. In this case, however, the baby mammoth was complete, intact and well-preserved.

Named Nun cho ga but the local tribes, the find essentially means big baby animal, no surprise. All the skin and hair is intact, which makes the find extremely valuable in terms of understanding exactly how junvenile mammoths looked and probably behaved mechanically as well as physically. In terms of scientific information, the find is huge. It’s similar to finding an entire painting by a famous artist versus just having a brush he or she might have used.

Locked away in permafrost for centuries, the baby mammoth was literally preserved in the earth’s freezer, untouched by bacteria or the elements for an amazing amount of time. Scientists evaluating the specimen guess that the juvenile likely passed away earlier, maybe from sickness, as its pack was moving since there were no predatory marks on it or scattering of remains. Or, also likely, the animal may have gotten stuck in a deep mud pit or quicksand and was quickly buried, protecting it from rot or degradation.

The last time anyone found a North American baby mammoth in good condition was in 1948, some 70 plus years ago. That one was named Effie, and was located inside a gold mine in Alaska. Additionally, another more recent find was in 2007 in Siberia. That find was estimated to be much older, at 42,000 years of age. It was comparative to the same size as Nun cho ga, which means the two together will provide some interesting comparative notes and years of study going forward. It’s enough to make a dinosaur scientist get giggly.

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Pennsylvania Nurses Get a COVID Booster for Student Loan Debt

Shannon Jackson

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Becoming a nurse is no easy day in the park. Aside from all the clinical hours required and bookwork in classes, a candidate still has to pass their state license exams as well as figure out how to pay for the education costs. It’s quite common for a graduating nurse, whether an LN or RN, to have thousands of dollars in student loan debt. That was already a significant barrier to recruitment before COVID-19 arrived. Things only got worse as experienced nurses left the field in droves after the pandemic’s burnout.

However, Pennsylvania is hitting the problem head on. The state decided that it was going to provide a pot totaling $55 million to help reduce or eliminate student loan debt for eligible nurses. Funded by a combination of state dollars matched to federal American Rescue Plan funds for overall economic stimulus, Pennsylvania directed its internal share to help boost nursing in-state again as well as keep nurses in their careers with financial stability.

Essentially, any nurse who worked during the pandemic, was licensed by the state, and cared for COVID-19 patients will be eligible to get a $7,500 payment for student loan relief. The funds are one-time, non-recurring, but they still represent a huge wave of debt relief for affected nurses. 24,000 plus nurses responded with applications before the deadline ended, which has exceeded the estimated fund allocation available, no surprise. To deal with this surge in eligibility, the state administrators will split the funds on a prorata basis between the impacted state areas and regions, based on the number of nurses who applied. Then, within each regional pot, nurses will be selected by random on who will get the one-time payment.

Those who are selected won’t see the funds themselves. To ensure the payment is used correctly, the money goes directly to the student loan servicer provided by that nurse in their application. The first recipients will see their student loans lowered this month, in August 2022. To help deal with the demand, an additional $15 million in federal dollars was redirected to the fund as well. The allocation for an awardee is $2,500 each year for three years. This allows an easier outflow of funds versus a demand surge all at once. Which will be a considerable amount of accounting work on the state side.

The hope is that with the eventual success of the program expected in nurse retention, the same model can be used again to bolster sagging industries seeing a brain drain in Pennsylvania, as well as stabilize people being crushed by student loan debt.

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