Germany did a fantastic job at recycling a former Lufthansa Airbus A340 and converting it into a luxurious space, complete with rooms and technology. Even though Primer Minister Angela Merkel has several other airplanes at her disposal, this is the most famous one, and at $300 million, the most expensive one, too. The aircraft is officially known as the Konrad Adenauer, after the first Chancellor of Germany. All of Merkel’s airplanes have the most advanced anti-missile defense technology.
The cool thing about this particular presidential aircraft is that, as we mentioned above, it was completely remodeled and turned into a modern personal jet for government officials. The aircraft can hold up to 150 passengers, and, like the other planes at her disposal, it is fully equipped with extravagant bedrooms, showers, offices, and an impressive conference room. Another impressive feature is that this aircraft counts with additional fuel tanks that allow it to fly non-stop for up to 13,000 km.
Half-Way
This one knocks us out of the park. We know that planes can fly us across oceans. But, for the AFO, the plane can fly halfway across the world. That's around 12,000 miles. To reach such an endeavor, the plane can carry around 52,000 gallons of fuel. With a full tank, that's enough fuel to get it halfway around the world.
Air Force One is an impressive piece of equipment, but it is not the only one. Have a look at this list of the world's most impressive presidential airplanes, their amazing features, and how much they cost.
Mexico's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – $600 million
Surpassing the famous Air Force One in cost and performance, this beautiful Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is the world's most expensive plane, at a whopping $600 million. It was the official presidential aircraft for Mexico's ex-president, Enrique Peña Nieto, until Lopez Obrador succeeded him. This marvelous piece of equipment can fly 10,000 miles without refueling and sit up to 250 passengers. Oh, and if you're ever in the mood to make a quick trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo, you can take this baby and fly without stopping!
As if the price wasn't high enough, the aircraft costs another $100,000 a year to maintain! Any aviation enthusiast would be in awe of this groundbreaking airplane, but it's caused a stir among Mexican natives, and understandably so, since the levels of poverty and corruption in the country are soaring, and spending $600 million on a plane instead of fixing social issues is not the best way to gain the people's respect and support. Regardless, it's an outstanding piece of machinery.
Britain's Airbus A330 – $250 million
The 32nd squadron of the Royal Air Force recently purchased a $250 million Airbus A330 for British Prime Minister Theresa May. The airplane has a comfortable 58-seat capacity for government officials and close staff and an extra 100-seat area in the airplane's tail for journalists. And this nifty little machine can refuel in the air!
The UK has the presidential airplane with the biggest passenger capacity on this list, and it is also one of the most modest. Supposedly, the purchase and renovations were made, taking the country's economic situation into account, claiming they actually saved a lot of money due to smaller engines and less fuel. All in all, the airplane is quite modest, even when it comes to its interior decor, but at $250 million, it still makes our list.
Saudi Arabia's Boeing 747 – $520 million
When it comes to splurging, King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's ruler until 2015, definitely tops the list. He decided to modify this Boeing 747 and turned it into a flying palace, complete with its very own fountain on board! The airplane itself cost approximately $228 million, but the King decided to jack up its price to $520 million by transforming its interior into something out of a 1600s royalty film set.
The aircraft is complete with five bedrooms, 20 smaller rooms, and a steam room made entirely out of marble. But wait, that's just the beginning. It also features a parking space for his beloved (and oh so humble) Rolls Royce, a private elevator, and a stunning grand piano with a concert hall. Frugal, huh?