For the first time, a US president visited the Brazilian Amazon. Joe Biden made a quick stop in Manaus, a city located in the center of the enormous rainforest, on Sunday.
The stop was quick but caused a stir at the local airport, which hosted the landing of the two Air Force Ones (VC-25A) in addition to several support aircraft.
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In Manaus, the Democrat visited a museum and spoke with local representatives before taking off again towards Rio de Janeiro, where the G20 Summit is taking place.
A surreal sight for the inhabitants
The hot and humid Manaus, a city focused on tourism and also on the production of vehicles and domestic equipment through tax incentives, saw its airport receive an unusual movement of aircraft.
With a surreal and historic view of the two Air Force One aircraft, those present also witnessed the organization of the US Navy and US Secret Service protection forces, which always accompany the American presidential entourage.
The US Navy deployed four Sikorsky VH-60N units, the presidential transport variant of the helicopter, in addition to UH-60 Black Hawk and C-17 Globemaster freighters.
Air Force One
With the call sign “Air Force One”, the US presidential aircraft is referred to as the Boeing VC-25, a variant of the 747 specially produced in the 1990s.
Derived from the 747-200B, the two Air Force Ones (28000 and 29000) are expected to remain in service for a few more years, while their replacements, two VC-25Bs, are not ready.
The VC-25B is derived from the Boeing 747-8, and is therefore larger and more sophisticated. They are being prepared by Boeing to take on the role of transporting the President of the United States.
Although the two 747s are the most commonly used, “Air Force One” is the name given to every U.S. Air Force (USAF) aircraft carrying the President.
