Everyone should know that the President of the United States flies in a Boeing 747 called Air Force One. Many people might also know that the vice president rides in a separate plane called Air Force Two that is usually a Boeing 757. So just how far down does the presidential line of succession do we have to go before we hit an Airstream? Well, apparently not that far. Air Force Six.
Who exactly gets to ride in Air Force Six you ask? Well, if you click through the link above you would have landed at the Wikipedia page telling you exactly that. The Secretary of Defense.
It is housed inside a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III which is a military transport aircraft used by our armed forces to haul pretty much anything around all corners of the globe. It is as utilitarian as it gets when it comes to creature comfort.
There are no plush head liners and velvet slippers when you board the aircraft and certainly you are not going to get champagne service when you ride on this baby. So just how is this going to work for the sixth highest ranked government official for the United States government when he travels around? Put an Airstream in, of course. Actually, how about three Airstreams.
That’s right. Our secretary of defense rides around the world fighting evil from the comfort of an Airstream. As a matter of fact, it is three Airstream segments joined together to form possibly the longest Airstream ever. I don’t know the exact length but it certainly looks to be close to, if not over, 60 feet long.
Even though the wheels on this baby never rolls, it might also be the Airstream with the most miles under its chassis. As much rallying as Wally did back in the day, I really doubt he even comes close to the number of countries that have passed beneath the belly of this monster.
Here is Secretary Robert Gates conducting a meeting in his ‘office’. I wonder if he has an 18-volt cordless driver in those drawers to help him lower the leveling jacks.
Air Force Six isn’t actually exclusively used by the Secretary of Defense as many of the other high ranking military commanders also have access to its capabilities. It is referred to officially as the C-17 Swank and there are two of them stationed in different parts of the country. They are extensively outfitted to be the satellite command centers for the United States Military.
It’s good to see that the Silver Bullet comes complete with a picnic table right outside the trailer with trays full of Dorito’s chips and cans of Planters peanuts.
There are many other Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs shuttling our brave men and women around the world fighting evil but none of the other ones are lucky enough to be adorned with the nicknamed the ‘Silver Bullet’.
If you are interested in reading more detail about this amazing piece of machinery, click here to read ’till your heart’s content.
Source: malimish.com
