Most Interesting Facts About Air Force One

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Mid-Air Refueling

Politico

One of the most astonishing features of Air Force One is its ability to refuel mid-flight. In-flight refueling is a rare commodity that Richard Branson would probably love to introduce to Virgin Airlines. However, this is a special feature of the one and only Air Force One. It can refuel itself up to 35,000 feet in the air. An aircraft hovers closely above Air Force One and extends its hose down to attach to the plane. A boom operator manages this transfer with a pilot actively monitoring the autopilot and the other offloading. The boom operator disconnects once the fueling process in complete. By way of refueling mid-air, Air Force One saves time by not having to land and refuel. After all, it is the Oval Office on air and the government must run smoothly and efficiently.