The current pair of VC-25A-modified 747-200s known in popular culture as Air Force One have aerial refueling capabilities. This allows the jumbo jets to receive fuel inflight from an aerial tanker such as the Boeing KC-46. Let’s look at how long Air Force One can fly with this special function.
First off, for those who are likely to take issue with our use of the name Air Force One, let’s set the record straight with this term. Technically, “Air Force One” is used to designate any Air Force aircraft carrying the President. Similarly, any US Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President is designated Marine One.
The general public, however, is most familiar with the modified 747-200Bs flying as Air Force One.
What’s Air Force One’s range with aerial refueling?
Unfortunately, the official answer is not going to be very satisfying. According to The White House’s official website and webpage on Air Force One, this is the answer:
“Capable of refueling midair, Air Force One has unlimited range and can carry the President wherever he or she needs to travel.”
It’s a somewhat clearer answer if we take refueling out of the picture. Flugzeuginfo.net notes that the range of a Boeing 747-200 is 12,700km – equating to a maximum of 14 hours of flight at cruising speed. Of course, the VC-25As are modified, and their range will vary slightly from this.
Air Force One is rarely pushed to its limits without aerial refueling. Some have even claimed that the current VC-25As have never been refueled inflight whilst the President is onboard.
In an interview with the Texarkana Gazette, however, a former Air Force One pilot recalls one particularly long flight during his time in service:
“That trip to Saudi Arabia with Bush was the longest flight I ever flew…It was 14 hours and 45 minutes long.” -Retired Col. Robert D. “Danny” Barr
Offering a best guess
It makes sense that no sources on the internet would be able to offer a specific range that includes aerial refueling.
First of all, publishing the aircraft’s maximum range, especially when factoring in aerial refueling, could pose a security risk and would thus be kept confidential.
Secondly, as far as we know, Air Force One has never been pushed to its limits to verify a maximum time in the air.
One contributor on an Airliners.net forum offered an estimation of three days as the longest theoretical flight, saying that the limitation is engine lubrication. Another answer, found on Quora, echoes this by saying “until the oil turns to sludge.” Other contributors have also noted that water supplies for those onboard may ultimately be the limiting factor when it really comes down to in-air endurance.
What do you think is the longest time an aircraft can stay in the air with aerial refueling? Let us know in the comments.
