translated from Spanish: The Air Force E-4B, a flying fortress for the Pentagon chief

beyond being an impressive aircraft, with the words ‘United States of America’ touring t Odo side, the Air Force E-4B which travels the USA, James Mattis, Secretary of Defense is first and foremost a fortress from which to deal “with any threat that sift over the country”.
“In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command control, this vessel offers a command post with high capacity of survival, control and communication from which go to the armed forces of the United States,” according to the words which the Pentagon describes the jewel of its air fleet.
This Boeing 747 was adapted, already more than 40 years ago, to be able to serve as a control room from which the holder of the Defense portfolio could lead an attack against any enemy that ose to threaten his country, as a small extension of the headquarters of the Department if Defense were.
In an informal conversation with Efe, the own Mattis described the device as “magnificent” and explained how it is designed so you can continue by ensuring his country’s security even when it is travel.
The E-4B has inside a control room, in which thirty military operates a multitude of devices of high technology which, among other things, can send and receive highly classified information.
This capability allows the Secretary to direct from the air any movement of the U.S. armed forces and, of course, to coordinate an attack with nuclear weapons if necessary.
For this reason, this aircraft is conceived as a bunker highly protected against any type of attack.
This device, which remains in check status of alert and therefore ready to take off at any time, account with defense against possible attacks electrical and electronic systems, with a shield that protects it “nuclear and thermal effects” and even , a protection against offensive acoustics.
At risk considered trips, also flies always escorted by at least one couple of fighters.
As it was built more than 40 years ago, it is not surprising that a team of five people in the cockpit is necessary to make it fly.
One of them, who is currently touring South America with general Mattis in which is his first official tour of the region, explained to Efe that in most modern apparatuses tasks that perform three of the members of this team already are performed by computers.
However, this member of the U.S. air force is proud to be part of the team of this device that “gentle”, has his own team of mechanics on each trip and you can stay in the air without refueling “more than any other”.
If necessary, however, you can always reload in mid-flight tank that feeds its four engines.
The crew of the plane consists of the equipment in the cockpit, the mechanics and the auxiliary of flight, which are those who attend the passage during the displacements, all members of the air force.
In addition to the crew, this ‘bird’ usually accompany Defense Secretary part of his Cabinet and its communication equipment, members of his escort, military that control all communications and, almost always, a small group of journalists.
While it does not have the comforts of a commercial aircraft, as screens that can see films that help pass the time, and that only has windows from which to admire the different landscapes that fly over the Air Force E-4B There are some little luxuries, like some bunk beds or an endless assortment of foods to nibble between meals.
Ultimately, it is evident that it is a winged bunker, Yes, but it continues to be the office and residence of one of the most powerful men on the planet during a handful of days a year. However, the greatest luxury of this aircraft is certainly, to simply fly in it.

Original source in Spanish