Even before US President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing on Wednesday, the first act of the China-US summit was playing out in the skies above the Chinese capital.
Hundreds of professional photographers and residents lined up across various points near Beijing Capital International Airport to capture one of the most recognisable symbols of the American presidency – Air Force One.
Within minutes of its appearance, Chinese social media was flooded with videos and photos of the aircraft’s landing, filmed from multiple angles on the ground. “This is too close,” remarked a social media user with more than 300,000 followers.
Some aviation enthusiasts posted detailed analyses of the presidential aircraft, calling it “a flying White House”, while others tracked its journey from Washington, sharing the flight path and videos of its landing and take-off during a refuelling stop in Alaska.
A few plane spotters also speculated about the arrival of the US E-4B Nightwatch, also known as the “doomsday plane”, at a military base in Okinawa, Japan. The aircraft frequently shadows the US president on international trips for security reasons.
On the runway in Beijing, a stoic Chinese officer won acclaim on social media at home and overseas when a video of him standing completely still as Air Force One taxied past him went viral.
Daily Mail correspondent Jon Michael Raasch, who recorded the video, posted it online with the comment: “This guy didn’t even flinch and the plane is roaring loud.”
The roar came from four General Electric jet engines, each possessing a thrust of 25,700kg (56,700lbs), powering an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 374,850kg, a 12,550km (7,800-mile) range – with mid-air refuelling capability – and a top speed of more than 1,000km/h (621mph).
Officially designated as the VC-25A, the customised blue-and-white Boeing 747-200B is a massive presence, at 70.7 metres (232 feet) long and 19.3 metres high, with a wingspan of nearly 60 metres.
While a standard Boeing 747 can carry more than 300 passengers, Air Force One is configured for 70 guests and a 30-member crew.
It features cutting-edge electronic and communication equipment to ensure secure connectivity for the president, functioning as a mobile command centre capable of transmitting the nuclear codes.
Although many of its defence features are classified, the White House website does mention that “the on-board electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse”.
There are also reports suggesting that the aircraft can redirect air-to-air and ground-to-air missiles and has on-board jammers to disrupt enemy radar and sensor systems.
Spread across three levels, the 4,000 sq ft (372 square metre) interior space includes a presidential suite equipped with a private office and conference room. For emergencies, a fully staffed medical suite doubles as an operating room. The plane also has quarters for senior advisers, Secret Service officers, travelling press and other guests.
For the China trip, dozens of advisers, cabinet secretaries and top business leaders travelled with the president on Air Force One. The high-profile delegation included Tesla’s Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Apple’s Tim Cook.
The plane’s two food preparation galleys can serve up to 100 people. On Tuesday, Trump’s communications adviser Margo Martin shared the special Chinese menu aboard the presidential jet which included beef stir fry, spring rolls and a fortune cookie.
Unlike Trump, President Xi Jinping does not have a specialised aircraft for state travel. He flies on a Boeing 747 provided by national carrier Air China, which returns to regular commercial service once a trip concludes.
While few details have been made public, state media reports from the mid-2010s describe a 20-day preparation period for the aircraft ahead of any presidential visit.
The process involves rigorous security checks and crew selection, while the interior is temporarily refitted with sofas and beds to create a cabin area that features a living room, bedroom and office.
The frenzy witnessed at Trump’s arrival on Wednesday began days before the visit, with online users tracking multiple US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft landing in Beijing.
Heavily armoured US Secret Service Suburbans, including the presidential limousine “the Beast”, were soon spotted on the city’s highways, with images and videos shared widely on social media.
With the summit entering a camera-ready phase of choreographed diplomacy, the intense public scrutiny is likely to continue over the next 48 hours. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
