Flying with the President

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ast year, President Trump made a surprise three-hour visit to the al-Asad air base in war-torn Iraq, together with his wife Melania and National Security Adviser John Bolton. The purpose of the visit was to personally thank the US soldiers stationed there.

How did they get there? On Air Force One — one of two official, highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft that is the president’s personal airplane. Air Force One is like a flying presidential office, ready to travel anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.

Air Force One is easy to spot, with the words “United States of America” emblazoned on it, in addition to the American flag and the United States presidential seal. Unlike any plane you might have flown on, it is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, so it can function as a mobile command center in case of an attack on the United States.

Curious to learn more about the president’s one-of-a-kind aircraft? Join photographer Esky Cook and me as we tag along with Rabbi Chaim Lazar, and his sons, Naftali, Nechemia, and Nesanel. They traveled to National Harbor, Maryland, to tour the only full-size replica of Air Force One (not the actual Air Force One) at Air Force One Experience. They are among the over 40,000 visitors this traveling museum has attracted since it opened at this location this past November.