India Gets Its Own 'Air Force One' Plane

Where: New Delhi, India

April 1, 2009 : The Indian Air Force has now got its own version of Air Force One, the American Presidential aircraft. Three exclusive Business Boeing Jets were added to the Indian Air Force’s fleet on April 1, 2009. Named Rajdhoot, Rajhans and Rajkamal, the three aircraft will be used to transport the Indian President and the Prime Minister. The President or PM will have an executive office on board, a secure communication chamber and facilities to host around 50 guests.

Unlike the US President’s Air Force One, which can fly halfway around the world without refuelling, the Indian craft can do up to 3,000 nautical miles (around 5,600 kilometres). The American “Flying Oval Office” it is believed, has an escape pod or capsule to take the US President out of danger if the plane is hijacked. The Indian aircraft has no such special feature, but its security systems include self-protection suites (SPS) to tackle any incoming airborne missiles.

“Trips will now be more business-like,” said Indian President Pratibha Patil, who made the inaugural flight on one of the aircraft to the north-eastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

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Filed under: world news
Tags: #indians, #americans, #air force, #indian air force

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