Hacker News Reader

Maybe... the Secret Service and Military REALLY want a 4 engine plane for AF1 -- remember other than transporting the President it serves as command and control for US armed forces. Losing an engine due to an attack is part of their planning.

They may look at a military conversion if there isn't a civilian airliner available.

Hmm, does 4 engines really add to survivability? Looking at recent-ish cases like the 777(?) the Russians shot down over Ukraine or the case in Iran a few years ago, after being hit they go down pretty solidly whether they have 2 or 20 engines.

I guess the one case where 4 engines might be useful is if somebody sneaks up with an IR-guided manpad near an airport. Such a small missile might just take out an engine without breaking up the entire plane.

Then again, in a war if you're operating AF1 anywhere close where hostile missiles are a concern, you're doing something wrong.

Yes, 777 (X or BJ) is also capable of the longest max range of any US jet, so I imagine that would factor into an AF1 decision too. Longest range or loiter time without refueling.

Japan went with the 777 for their replacement AF1s