How does Xi Jinping’s ‘special plane’ compare with Air Force One?
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington this week, attention is already turning to the aircraft that will carry him and how it stacks up against America’s famous presidential plane. The aircraft carrying China’s leader, often referred to in state media and official statements as a zhuan ji, or special plane, remains far less known to the world than Air Force One, despite both…
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington, comparisons are being drawn between the aircraft that will carry him and America's iconic Air Force One. While both countries utilize Boeing 747s for presidential travel, the details of China's special plane remain relatively unknown, unlike the extensively documented Air Force One.
The Chinese president's aircraft, referred to as a zhuan ji, is not dedicated, unlike Air Force One, which is permanently configured for presidential travel. Air Force One, operated by the US Air Force, is a highly customized Boeing 747-200Bs, designated VC-25A, bearing tail numbers 28000 and 29000. For its part, China does not operate a dedicated presidential aircraft, drawing from Air China's fleet for Xi's overseas trips.
China's reasoning for not maintaining a dedicated presidential aircraft includes avoiding waste and ensuring flight safety. The Chinese president's aircraft is generally referred to simply as a "special plane", with limited public information available about its specifications. Air Force One, by contrast, is meticulously documented, including its aircraft designation, tail numbers, onboard facilities, history, and passenger capacity.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
