What is this strange and terrible plane that everyone is so afraid of?
E-4B "Nightwatch" known as NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post), pronounced "Kneecap", and since 1994 the second name NAOC (National Airborne Operations Center) - air command posts (VCP).
This flying command center is specially designed for nuclear war. The destruction of ground control structures will do nothing to the enemy: all the leadership with access to the "red button" will already be in the air at an unattainable height.
The apocalypse machine can be in the air for a whole week with refueling in the air. The equipment is reliably protected from radiation and other consequences of a nuclear explosion.
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The board is designed to carry a hundred people - in fact, the entire military structure of the country will be moved here in case of danger.
The USA has a fleet of 10 "planes of the apocalypse". 4 of them are constantly ready for takeoff. On foreign trips, the American president is always accompanied by one special board - just like that, just in case.
The first three E-4As were built on the basis of the Boeing 747-200 airframe at Boeing in 1974-1978. In 1979, the upgraded E-4B was built. Outwardly, it was distinguished by the presence of a large fairing that covered the satellite antennas on top of the fuselage above the upper deck. In 1980, all three E-4A's were upgraded to become the E-4B. All aircraft equipment is protected against an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) of a nuclear explosion. There is a filtration system for radioactive dust in the intake and air conditioning systems for ventilation of the cabin and compartments.
The price of the aircraft was 250 million US dollars and the E-4B was in the second place among the most expensive aircraft (B-2 Spirit later took the first place - 2,200 million US dollars per aircraft. The crew of each aircraft ranges from 60 to 114 people and outnumbered crews of any other US Air Force aircraft.
In fact, this time, the rise in the air of the E-4B may not be related to the growing tension around Syria. This, at least, is the opinion of a number of international experts.
The Boeing E-4B from the "night watch" (this nickname was given to the detachment by the first squadron commander), has already been raised without any emergency reasons. The US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, has used such an aircraft on every trip abroad.
Flight performance:
Crew = 60-114
Length = 70.5 m
Wingspan = 59.7 m
Height = 19.3 m
Wing area = 510 m2
Empty weight = 190,000 kg
Maximum takeoff weight = 370,000 kg
Engines = 4 General Electric CF6-50E2 turbofans
Thrust of each engine = 234 kN
Max. speed = 969 km / h
Flight range = 11,000 km
Ceiling = 14,000 m
Wing loading = 730 kg / m²