Technical Specifications and Information

VC-25A - Boeing 747-200B Aircraft (1990 - present)

Manufacturer: The Boeing Company Introduced: 23 August 1990 (SAM 28000) 23 December 1990 (SAM 29000) Status: Active service Produced: 1987 Number built: 2 Unit Cost: US$ 325 million Developed From: Boeing 747 Variants: Boeing E-4 Crew: 26: three pilots, cabin crew Capacity: 76 passengers Length: 231 ft 5 in (70.6 m)

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m) Height: 63 ft 5 in (19.3 m) Zero Fuel Weight: 526,500 lb (238,800 kg) Maximum Takeoff Weight: 833,000 lb (375,000 kg) Powerplant: 4 General Electric CF6-80C2B1 turbofans, 56,700 lbf (250 kN) each Maximum Speed: Mach 0.92 (630 mph, 1,015 km/h) at altitude Cruise Speed: Mach 0.84 Flight Range: 6,800 nmi (7,800 mi, 13,000 km); approx. 1/3 the distance around the circumference of Earth. Service Ceiling: 45,100 ft (13,700 m) MSL

Operational and Other Costs associated with VC-25-A

Airfare and related travel expenses associated with the trips taken by the President, Vice President, and First Lady are only a fraction of the total cost of such trips. Most of the costs involve operational costs of the aircraft, and include fuel, maintenance, engineering support, and per diem expenses for the crew. The military aircraft used by the White House are operated by the 89th Airlift Wing (AW) located at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, just outside Washington, DC. Among the aircraft in the 89 AW are two Boeing 747s (also known as VC-25As) that have been specially configured for the President's needs, and that are exclusively for his use.

Electronic and communications equipment in the 747s enables the President to keep in touch at all times with civilian and military officials. The President flies on one of the 747s on most of his trips. Occasionally, he will use a smaller plane when the area he is visiting cannot accommodate a 747. "Air Force One" is the designation given to whatever plane the President is using at the time. Information provided by the U.S. Air Force in 2012 shows that the cost per hour for the President's 747 (which is designated "VC-25" by the Air Force) is $179,750, (E-mail from the Director of Public Affairs, 18th Air Force, April 24, 2012. This figure includes "fuel, flight consumables, depot repairs, aircraft overhaul and engine overhaul." (Ibid.) )

The Vice President and First Lady use aircraft different from the presidential 747. The Vice President primarily flies on a C-32; the First Lady primarily flies on a C-40 (the C-32 is an alternate). [SOURCE]