Private air transport for heads of state --- anything like Air Force One?

[Zsofia]

@thouk

Hello,
I am a Loadmaster for the Navy. When we fly people of ranks from O-6 and higher we place their rank designation on the front entrance door. Also on the seats that they are supposed to sit in we place welcome aboard and their rank equivalent. I have flown the head of state of one of the Balkan states. I don’t remember which. All I remember was there was a lot of Secret Service on board. I hope that helps. Tony

Doesn’t that seem like kind of a security problem? “HEY YOU GUYS, THERE’S AN ADMIRAL HERE!”

[fortytwo]

@MarcusF

The Royal Standard is only flown while the plane is on the ground - though Lord knows how they take it down just before take-off! Reach out the pilot’s window?

Yes they do. Most of the types of aircraft used for the Queen would have a DV (direct vision) window, which can be opened by the pilot to retrieve/ deploy the flag.

If I remember correctly, she’s also used a L1011 where access to the flag was through the escape hatch in the flight deck upper skin.

If you scroll down this page you can see what I’m talking about (the 1011 is similar)

everythingPanAm

I’ve worked on aircraft being prepared for the queen and it’s in no way like we hoi polloi are used to. All the seats are stripped out and specially designed furniture is fitted. I assume much like the president has.

[Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical]

I used to work with this guy in Texas. We did a couple of head of state planes (for oil country folks). They tend to be reflective of the illustrations under the “Air” tab and not military oriented.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

The Pope always takes Alitalia charters, IIRC.

For any head of state or VIP who flies a lot, I’d think it’d be cheaper and less trouble over the long haul to have your own aircraft; it’s also more impressive to have customized livery on the fuselage. I wish the British would do the same for the Queen and Prime Minister (for that matter, I wish they’d build a new Royal Yacht!).