Airplanes of the Presidents. Air Force One - Presidential Planes

Makes international visits and goes on trips around the country. The very appearance of this aircraft should inspire respect for Russia, symbolizing its technical level, economic power and giant size. When Putin, the President of our country, comes in for landing or takes off, the emotions of everyone who watches this spectacle correspond to this important point. This is our plane, it belongs to all the people, the work of many teams has been invested in it, and it was built with the money of taxpayers. People have the right to know what is inside it, how reliable and comfortable it is, how the head of state can fulfill his duties during long-haul flights.

Stalin's Special Air Squad

The head of state could theoretically travel by plane already in the thirties, when the reliability of airplanes reached the proper level. And so it was, although I.V. Stalin, despite his passion for aviation, still preferred ground transport. In the military year of 1943, he arrived by air from Baku, on the American Douglas C-47. At that time, the production of licensed transport aircraft of this type (Li-2 or PS-84) was already established in the USSR, but in the USA some components were improved, so the C-47 was chosen from among those supplied under the Lend-Lease agreement. A special military unit for government transportation was formed two days after the start of the war (MAGON), but other members of the senior leadership and military leaders used this special air group. History has not preserved other cases of Stalinist flights, except for a flight to Tehran and back. Most likely, they were not.

From Khrushchev to Yeltsin

Another thing is N. S. Khrushchev. As First Secretary, he appreciated the government's aviation legacy of conventional passenger and other modest twin-engine aircraft and found it too modest. In 1956, a special air squadron (GAS) was created, which immediately received the latest Il-18, Tu-104 and huge Tu-114. In general, the representative functions assigned to this equipment and the personnel serving it were quite consistent with the then world practice, and the most important boss Soviet Union indeed, such machines were required so as not to look like a “poor relative” among world leaders. In the Brezhnev era, this tradition was continued, the magnificent Il-62 airliner became a symbol of the might of the USSR. The first board number 1 Putin, Il-96, he got from Yeltsin. The aircraft was repeatedly altered, the interior and equipment were changed, and, in the end, four new machines were ordered.

Rossiya, State transport company

VV Putin often pays visits. He spends four times more time in the air than his predecessor in the presidency B. N. Yeltsin. During the flight, he also has to perform the difficult duties of the head of state. Either in Beijing, or in Paris, or in Rio de Janeiro, Putin's aircraft number 1 lands. The photos taken by correspondents of the world mass media capture the edge of the snow-white plane on which the president arrived. It seems that it is always the same, but it is not. In fact, there are currently four of them, and soon there will be five, and these are only of the same type. The state transport company "Russia" has a fleet of more than one of them, including a pair of Ilov-62, Tu-134, Yakov-40 and Mi-8 helicopters. All of them are equipped with a set of equipment necessary for governing the country. But the most main board Putin's number 1, whose photo most often appears on the pages of print and online publications, is, of course, the Il-96-300PU, a flying control post or "air Kremlin".

Our plane for our president

The choice of brand and type of aircraft was not a particular problem. Of all passenger liners back in Yeltsin's time, the largest, most beautiful, reliable, air-stable and comfortable Il-96 was chosen. Even today he is Putin's number 1 board. Which aircraft could better perform this function?

The idea that the Federation should fly on a foreign aircraft may have occurred to some supporters of "Western values" during the period of great friendship with the United States, but they still did not dare to buy a representative Boeing in the Yeltsin era. The economic difficulties of the nineties are a well-known historical fact, in addition, the wide-body domestic airliner turned out to be quite good. So it remains to this day, Putin's number 1 board. The IL-96-300 model, which has become the base, has takeoff weight up to 250 tons, can reach speeds of over 900 km / h, and as for the range non-stop flight, then it is known about it that it exceeds 9 thousand kilometers (an indicator for serial samples), but how much is still kept secret. All components and parts in this aircraft are Russian-made, including PS-90A engines, perhaps not as economical as Pratt & Whitney or Rolls Royce products, but reliable. In addition, the motors were assembled with great care. The cost of a regular copy fluctuates around the equivalent of 60 million US dollars. Each presidential board number 1 "Russia" cost the treasury many times more.

Yeltsin Board No. 1

For the first time, the issue of interior design was raised by the administration of President Boris N. Yeltsin after his election to a high post. Prior to this, the tastes of state leaders were relatively undemanding, for example, L. I. Brezhnev liked to play dominoes in flight, which is why the polished table had to be repaired (but not changed) often. Gorbachev's plane was also not liked by the new democratic Yeltsin associates, as was the situation inside the new Il-96, and therefore the interior was ordered in Switzerland (Jet Aviation AG). The contracting firm Mercata Trading, which became an intermediary in this transaction, also made a lot of money. Foreign designers based their development on the sketches of Glazunov (not Ilya, but his son, Ivan). Inside, the Russian board number 1 of that time was a model of luxury and comfort. It has new bedrooms (two), a conference room (for 12 people), comfortable seats for suites and shower cubicles. But the main thing was another innovation: the plane housed a whole mobile medical center, in which it became possible to exercise control over the health of the President, and it left much to be desired. In Helsinki, to "friend Bill" in March 1997, Yeltsin was already delivered a new board number 1.

Need for a new car

From point of view state security ordering a government facility abroad seems to be quite an adventurous affair. Many participants in the events remember the case that occurred during the fire at the US Embassy (1991), when, in a short time and in difficult conditions, Soviet intelligence officers managed to install many "bugs". And in the case of the plane, which stayed in Switzerland for a year (a neutral country, of course, but also quite attractive for spies), only very lazy employees of foreign intelligence services could not take the opportunity to install any listening devices. In addition, the peculiarities of local taxation and wages implied a very high cost of work. At the time of the election of the new President, there was only one such aircraft in the State Customs Committee, and the old Il-62, on which Mikhail Gorbachev also flew, was used as a backup. It was quite clear that next board number 1 (Putin) should be completely built and completed in Russia. It is more reliable, besides, the filling (mainly electronic) required a completely new one, due to the high mobility of the new leader of the country.

English design in Russian execution

Unfortunately, design is not our forte, at least not yet. Therefore, the Russians did not consider it necessary to do without foreign assistance in this area this time either. However, there was a very significant clause in the contract: Dimonite Aircraft Furnishings Ltd performs all work on the territory of the Russian Federation, they are carried out by our specialists and mainly from domestic materials. Thus, two problems were solved at once. Firstly, the interior was guaranteed to meet the highest world ergonomic standards. Secondly, participation in this project provided Russian designers with the opportunity to learn a lot, so that in the future they could do without foreign help. Board number 1 Putin was supposed to become an example of an ideal combination of high functionality, convenience, comfort and excellent design, bordering on luxury, worthy of the head great country but not overstepping the bounds of good taste.

Privacy mode

In order to assess the information capabilities of the President's air headquarters, one should understand what his ground residence is. From the Kremlin, the head of state has the opportunity to govern the entire country in peacetime, and in the event of an armed conflict, he, being the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, must exercise command over the troops, in particular, give orders (if necessary) to use tactical or strategic nuclear weapons. There is no doubt that the communication channels intended for the transmission of such orders are highly redundant and extremely reliable. On the ground, it is also very difficult to establish such a system, but during the flight the task becomes much more complicated. Basically, the secrets of flight number 1 concern precisely this technical issue. Yes, and the most common communication is also maximally classified. Any word of the President, spoken in a conversation with the Minister of Defense or the head of the regional level, refers to information of particular importance that is not subject to unauthorized disclosure. The same applies to email correspondence.

The uninterrupted functioning of communications is ensured, as a rule, by one more aircraft, next topic the same course as Putin's board number 1. Escort is carried out by a flying repeater.

All electronic equipment and special communications equipment on board the presidential aircraft and at the disposal of ground-based special communications services are made in Russia (apparently in the city of Omsk) and have unique encryption and decryption algorithms. It is impossible for anyone else to connect to them.

Safety

The IL-96 is essentially an ordinary civilian airliner. Ordinary citizens may wonder how safe Putin's Air Force One is in today's difficult times. There is protection, but its details and implementation mechanisms, of course, are kept strictly secret.

The Presidential Security Service is fully aware of the fact that person No. 1 in the state can become the object of an assassination attempt not only on the ground, but also during air travel. It has never been reported that Putin was escorted by fighter jets during the flight, but it is possible that they are present in the airspace. At the same time, the presence of such an escort abroad is problematic due to many legal regulations governing the movement of aircraft, and the President does not fear attacks by enemy interceptors over his country. As for the possibility of hitting the “flying Kremlin” with a surface-to-air missile, there are means against such a threat, but they are kept secret for obvious reasons. It can be assumed that they are not limited to the production of electronic interference.

Staff

The fact that special people are hired into the staff of the State Transport Company Rossiya is not even subject to discussion. The professional qualities of pilots, technicians and flight attendants must correspond to the importance of their work duties. For each of the machines, two crews were selected, working in shifts, plus one commander, who bears the main burden of responsibility. It is known that the honored pilot S. Antsiferov pilots Putin's aircraft number 1. Escort in flight is carried out by ten flight attendants, half of whom are women. In the structure of the State Customs Committee there is no personnel department as such, it is recruited by the mandate commission. Not only professionalism is taken into account, but also such important personal qualities as the level of intelligence, courage and patriotism (this is the concern of the Federal Security Service). A hired worker is not immediately allowed on special aircraft, there is a certain amount. As for the payment, its size is not disclosed, one can only guess that it is quite worthy.

Golden plumbing?

A detailed description of the presidential aircraft is available to the general public and is widely discussed. Like every moment of life famous people, the interior of the salons received not only favorable reviews. Both ordinary inhabitants and opposition leaders (who, by the way, are not particularly ascetic) stubbornly exaggerate rumors about how much the board number 1 "Russia" cost the treasury. Photos of plumbing fixtures and even table legs covered with yellow metal are categorically declared to be proof that they are gold (even the price of a toilet bowl was called - 75 thousand dollars). Whether this is actually so, or titanium nitride was used, is not known for certain, and asking such questions is at least unethical. If, for example, a lady is asked whether she is decorated with real diamonds or jewelry, then she may be offended. Interior designers sought to give the most luxurious look, and what means they managed, may remain a mystery. It is only known that the plane cost a little more than Yeltsin's. And this despite the fact that the equipment on it is much larger, and it is really not cheap.

The history of the creation of a special flight detachment for the top leaders of the USSR, and now Russia, began in 1956, when the detachment was formed by a special decree of the Council of Ministers. It included the best specialists all services - from ground, to the pilots themselves and flight attendants. Let's see what our leader flies and what his planes are hiding - the most secret liners in Russia.

Knowing Vladimir Putin's commitment to everything domestic and "native", we can assume that the president travels around the country and the world on Russian planes. And this is true: the time-tested Il-96-300 wide-body aircraft is used for international visits. Inside Russia, Putin also flies the Russian Tu-204-300.

The flight detachment recruits experienced (and young) pilots who have passed a certain professional and high-quality selection. Of course, the last word on admission to the detachment is up to the special services, in particular, the FSO and the FSB. And this is logical - main passenger”, as it is customary to call the first person of the state on board, should be protected as much as possible, starting from the technical aspects of the aircraft and ending with the environment.

Before the departure of any of the president's planes, ground services check the operability of all systems three times, the quality of the fuel is assessed by a special mobile laboratory, the identity of which could not be found out. Most likely it belongs to the same special services.

Many people think that before the departure of the presidential plane air traffic and the airport itself is closed. This is not entirely true. In fact, Putin is simply given a separate "corridor" for take-off, and boarding the plane is carried out from a special government terminal. Rest civil aircraft and passengers at the airport are not “infringed” on their rights in any way.

Inside, as one would expect, the president's planes are different from their usual "colleagues". Salon IL-96-300, for example, has several compartments that house a conference room, lounges, meeting room, communication room, shower room.

All presidential planes are equipped with a secret system of special communications, it is simply impossible to intercept the president's conversations. All equipment was developed by domestic enterprises, and knowing the capabilities of our defense industry, one can believe in the invulnerability of the special communications of the first person of the state.

Vladimir Putin has introduced a kind of ritual: every time before a flight, he personally greets the pilots and flight attendants, and after landing, he also personally thanks the entire crew. It has already become a tradition, and we have all seen more than once how the president shakes hands with the commander of the aircraft before getting off the plane.

A little more about the interior decoration of presidential liners. Interior and interior decoration is made of precious woods, thick carpets are spread on the floor. There are no more frills inside the aircraft. Just as they are not inside the helicopters on which the president makes scheduled (and unscheduled) flights over short distances.

Yes, the president also has helicopters at his disposal, but only two of them are special, made for Putin. Inside, they are re-equipped "under the president", but all the rest, on which he flies on the ground, are ordinary helicopters without any alterations.

Let's return to "everything domestic", and in the light of the latest "sanctions" events, and to import substitution. The domestic aviation industry is going through hard times in terms of developing the latest civilian airliners (with the exception of the MS-21 and Superjet-100). But this medium haul aircraft, our airlines use foreign equipment for long-distance flights.

At the initiative of Vladimir Putin, our developers have begun to create a completely new airliner for long-haul flights, the Il-96-400. Work on it is almost completed and at the next aviation exhibitions we will see our large, domestic aircraft.

Any official visit of the head of state to the territory of another country is carried out by aircraft number one. This is how the aircraft, on which the first person of the country is located, is called all over the world. The plane is the first thing the hosts see when they meet an important guest, and the last thing they see off. Read about some of them in this article ...

1) The plane of the President of Russia. At the disposal of the head of state are two Il-96-300PU aircraft of 1995 and 2004. When the airport cannot accept this type of aircraft or for any other reason, the head of state can use the Il-62M, TU-214SR or Tu-154 from the Rossiya State Customs Committee fleet.

2) The plane of the President of the United States. At the disposal of the current head of the White House are two VC-25A (Boeing-747-200B), these aircraft were built in 1987 and handed over to the customer in 1990. The planes are military facilities, based at the closed Andrews Air Force Base, and each of their flights is equated to a military operation.

3) The plane of the German Chancellor. German Chancellor Angela Merkel uses two Airbus A for flights 310-304 1989 year of construction, as well as Canadair CL-600-2A12 Challenger 601 1986 of the year. available air fleet The German government also has two Airbus A340-313X VIPs (Konrad Adenauer and Theodor Heuss)

4) The plane of the President of France. Nicolas Sarkozy flies as head of state on an Airbus A310-304 built in 1987 for Royal Jordanian Airline, but returned to France in 1993. In addition, he has an Airbus A319-115X CJ built in 2001.

5) The plane of the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The British Prime Minister has the Royal Air Force at his disposal and this politician is not averse to making another flight aboard the small British Aerospace BAe-125 CC3 (BAe-125-700B). And sometimes it can be seen on board British Airways aircraft.

6) The plane of the Prime Minister of Japan. The Prime Minister of Japan can use one of the two Boeing 747-47Cs produced in 1990 and 1991.

7) The plane of the head of China. The President of the People's Republic of China uses a 2000 Air China Boeing 747-4J6 for flights. China does not have a special aircraft for transporting the Head of the People's Republic of China.

8) The plane of the President of Venezuela. The President of Venezuela prefers to fly on the Airbus A319-133X CJ with tail number 0001, which was released in 2001.

9) The plane of the President of Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad uses a 1979 Boeing 747SP-86 for flights.

10) The plane of the President of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko makes flights as the first person of the state on the Il-62 of 1981 or Tu-134.

Each head of state has to use high-speed transport (airplanes, helicopters). The vast expanse of Russia often has to be crossed by air, and not only because it is faster: some areas can only be reached with the help of helicopters. For foreign trips (meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing, speech at the UN in New York, talks with the leader of Serbia, Uzbekistan and/or Japan), Vladimir Putin uses a specially equipped liner. On board No. 1, his activities in managing the most complex mechanism of a huge country do not stop: flying high above the ground, he continues to solve internal and external international problems in his office, keep the Armed Forces and nuclear weapons under control.

Historical overview

First squad aircraft, specially designed for flights of the leaders of the Communist Party of the USSR, was formed back in the middle of the 20th century, at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. General Secretary Joseph Stalin flew to Tehran for a conference to meet with the heads of the United States and Great Britain on the C-47. The next head of state, Nikita Khrushchev, flew the IL-18. On the IL-62 aircraft created for him, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, Mikhail Gorbachev flew.

On IL-96, the president of independent Russia, Boris Yeltsin, traveled by air. But this model was already obsolete by that time, the environment of the head of state did not like the interior design with cardboard partitions and unpretentious curtains, the lack of a separate bathroom. The interior decoration was subsequently improved several times.

Special Aviation Detachment

The aviation residence is run by the Rossiya special squad, a state-owned enterprise (subordinate to the Presidential Administration), responsible for air transportation of the country's top officials and heads of the FSB (until 2009, as part of the Rossiya State Customs Committee).

The Vnukovo-2 terminal with a special government status has been allocated for basing the Rossiya air squadron at the Vnukovo airport near Moscow. The multifunctional detachment has about sixty airliners and two dozen helicopters (an impressive number!), But the exact figure was not disclosed.

Detachment manpower

Selection for the elite squad serving the flights of the top management is carried out more than rigidly on the basis of very high requirements. These include, first of all, the following:

age and state of health;
skill level;
personal qualities.

If to perform the usual tasks of a special detachment, not related to the transportation of the head of state, simply high qualifications are enough, then the best of the best are selected to work on board V. Putin. And for this you need not just to get to the very top, but to go up the career ladder gradually, step by step, mastering the secrets of the profession and becoming an ace in specific conditions, gaining authority from the entire team.

Credentials Commission aviation enterprise draws attention to the qualities of the candidate - diligence, discipline, responsibility, reliability of a potential employee, his ability to work in a team, strictly follow instructions and subordination.

Note! An almost military working regime, when, for example, absences for own will, serves as a natural selection for candidates for the detachment.

Presidential Air Transport Fleet

At the disposal of the head of Russia - 8-9 flying aircraft and 2 helicopters, in 2017-2018. replenishment is planned. The most demanded among them is the reliable and comfortable Il-96-300PU of the Voronezh Aircraft Plant (the last letters stand for “control point”, which means the highest status).

Presentable appearance, well-equipped interior space make it an attribute international politics and representative offices of the Russian Federation in the most different corners the globe.

However, the presidentialboard (oftenairplane) does not fly alone, he is accompanied by:

backup or spare liner for emergencies;
cargo air transport (for example, with cortege cars);
"signalman" or a special board with equipment providing special, incl. satellite, communication of the president.

Depending on the purpose of the visit, landing and other conditions of the air harbor, the distance and time of the flight, a specific vessel is selected. For working flights around the country, a more economical TU-214PU is used.

Some areas of Russia are accessible only by helicopters. If a transfer from an airplane to a helicopter is necessary, MI-8 helicopters arrive at the place of landing of the liner on time, having taken off in advance to the place of change of transport.

The IL-96-300 of a special modification "Salon" is intended for air transportation of large delegations.

main board

"Putinskiy" IL was enlisted in the detachment in 2003. The aircraft is made of domestic components, has Russian-made systems and equipment, and most importantly - a reliable engine. It can fly without landing for a distance of about 13 thousand km.

Currently, 4 such vessels are in operation, equipped with special communication equipment for confidential negotiations, means of control over the country's nuclear arsenal, and laser anti-missile defense systems. The cost of each is about 5 billion rubles. Many may be interested in how much each ship costs specifically? It depends on the modification and design. The highlight of the interior of Putin's plane is the wooden trim made of walnut veneer.

The interior space includes a personal area (bed, bathroom, shower). Unlike the US presidential board, the cabin does not have a gym. But the aircraft will certainly provide the owner with the privilege to warm up in the cabin during long flights. Putin has the opportunity to fully work and relax on board. In addition to the commander, the board is served by two crews that can replace each other. The team of flight attendants that flies on the same plane includes ten people (five men and five each).

Note! As you can see in the photo, the inside of the plane of the President of Russia looks very presentable, but not luxurious, meeting the taste of its passenger and creating a working atmosphere.

Protecting the flight of the head of state

The most up-to-date technological and informational means of protection should exclude accidental or malicious actions that could harm and / or prevent the main board of the country from making a necessary visit. With some degree of certainty, it can be assumed (as far as this allows open information) that they include the following:

high quality of the aircraft (the creations of designer Sergei Ilyushin are considered among the most reliable in the world);
secrecy of the route (the flight coordinates are known to a narrow circle of people, in some cases misinformation is used);
air and ground cover includes a complex of measures, vehicles, weapons;
own means of the aircraft to repel an attack and camouflage;
high qualification and reliability of personnel.

Important! The aircraft is equipped with domestic software and communications, incl. satellite.

The most vulnerable moments are the takeoff and landing of an airliner: it is at this time that the risk of an attack by terrorists increases. Therefore, these periods of time are carefully controlled on the ground by dispatchers and permanent air defense devices (Air Defense), and in the air - by experienced pilots of the highest class, who are part of the special cover unit.

To reflect and neutralize possible missile launches, an air defense system located on the liner is used; means are also available to neutralize heat traps. To increase invulnerability from missiles, special means of camouflaging the ship's hull are used, which disorient the radars.

The course towards the creation of domestic means of computer technology, communications, software further strengthens the country's ability to defend, to protect information. This also applies to the airliner of the country's leader - hack it electronic system Russian assembly is almost impossible.

Summit above ground

If we imagine an aerial “summit meeting” with a fair degree of probability, on board of which aircraft can you see the main faces of other states? Which of them was the first to receive such a privilege?

With the light hand of the entourage of Dwight Eisenhower, who acted as head of the United States in the 1950s. XX century, government aircraft around the world began to be called "Air Force One" (in English "Air Force One"), by analogy with the call sign by which it is designated.

Since 1990, the fleet of presidential aircraft has included a pair of Boeing VC-25s, military modifications of the Boeing 747, covering huge distances without refueling. They cost a lot - each for 325 million dollars, or a little more than 20 billion rubles. Before the flight of the head of state, vehicles, helicopters and equipment are delivered by air.

The interior of the Boeing VC-25 for one of the US presidents, Ronald Reagan, was designed by his wife. But he didn't have to appreciate it in the air: the incarnation of the plan dates back to the time of the next president, George W. Bush. In the center of the ship are Personal Area, bedroom, toilet and shower room. Closer to the tail - chairs for the press. There was a place for two kitchens where you can cook 100 servings, an operating table. On board there are medical and service personnel, secret and security services. The general staff of the top management can be deployed here, incl. military. The former president, Barack Obama, used this board.

A new service air vehicle for members of the royal family and government officials of the UK has appeared under David Cameron, a former prime minister. This Ascetic Aircraft, converted from an Airbus A330 and relatively modestly designed, has the ability to refuel in the air. Taxpayers paid 10 million pounds for it, or a little less than 1 billion rubles. In front of the cabin there is a VIP section of two seats, closed with curtains. In the business class in the center of the cabin - 58 seats (for delegations), then - about a hundred economy class seats (for the press).

Much more - 176 million euros or more than 12 billion rubles - was spent on an Airbus A330-200 and two small Falcon 7X aircraft to upgrade the French president's air fleet. The salon of the first has several zones, in which there is a bed, a dressing room, a bathroom, an office, a kitchen, a soundproof workplace for negotiations, encryption equipment, and a small operating room. Places have been allocated for journalists, experts, possible wounded, released hostages.

The German leadership uses the Airbus A340, which until 2011 Lufthansa carried passengers for ten years, it was named "Konrad Adenauer" in honor of the first chancellor of Germany. The second similar aircraft is named after Theodor Heuss, the former president. And before that, the role of the main board was played by the Airbus A310, received by "inheritance" from former GDR. The new vessel can accommodate 143 people. The chancellor is provided with a personal relaxation area (bedroom, shower), a study, a room for confidential conversations with excellent soundproofing. Also on board is a conference room for 12 people, seats (total 116) for escorts, incl. With handicapped, possible sick and / or injured. The vessel is capable of flying over a thousand kilometers without refueling. The protection system includes equipment - anti-missile and identification of the "friend or foe" type. Since 2010, the fleet of government liners has also included two Airbus 319s, accommodating 44 passengers and intended for flights around the country; four mini-liners Global 5000 for 13 passengers for short distances.

Additional Information! Relatively recently, the Internet network was amused by a photo from Zurich: two small ships of A. Merkel and F. Hollande against the backdrop of a huge Boeing 747-400, in which Iron Maiden, a rock band from Great Britain, tours.

Video

So, flight number one is a study and a place to rest, in which the head of the country continues his work, moving through the air to solve the necessary tasks in other places. But it should be not only a control panel, but also a flying fortress that will protect against all possible attacks and unforeseen situations.

The history of board number 1 has more than seven decades. The first flight of the head of state in Russia was carried out by the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin. Back in 1943, he, along with Molotov, Voroshilov and Beria, arrived at the Tehran Conference.

A lot has changed since then. To begin with, Stalin used the original American Douglas C-47 for the flight. According to one version, then the flight was carried out on a licensed copy of the American Li-2 of individual assembly.

Another Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, unlike his predecessor, used board number 1 much more often. For the transatlantic trip, the General Secretary chose a special Tu-114 (civilian version of the Tu-95 bomber). With this liner happened funny situation. The American ladders were not long enough, so the Soviet delegation had to descend using the ladder of a fire truck.

On the way to improving the aircraft of the President of Russia

Leonid Brezhnev preferred the swift Il-62. Soviet engineers were able to make a flagship civil aviation. Brezhnev's successors - Andropov and Gorbachev used it for business trips for official visits to other countries.

The aircraft, which transports the first persons of the state, has special requirements in terms of safety and reliability. It is known about one unpleasant incident that occurred with the "Brezhnev" Il-62. Crossing the air corridor of Algeria, the liner came under fire from the French Mirages. Until now, it remains unclear whether the fire was an accidental mistake, a provocation, or an attempt at sabotage.

When the question arose of what the first plane of the President of Russia would be, which also became the first in the history of the country, it was decided to change the Soviet flagship Il-62 to Il-96. He received side number RA96012. There are still legends about Boris Yeltsin's aircraft.

Some argue that the board number 1 of the President of Russia could boast of an interior design by Glazunov, an increased flight range. The presence of optoelectronic jamming stations for the homing heads of MANPADS missiles, a special rescue system for the first person of the state in the event of a fall. Like it or not, it is not known for certain. A number of sources, on the contrary, argue that Yeltsin was far from craving for luxury. The presidential liner did not have a beautiful interior. "Design flaws were hidden by simple curtains, the interior space was divided by cardboard partitions."

By 2017, the Rossiya Special Flight Detachment has nine Il-96-300s of various modifications. Therefore, the answer to the question "What Putin flies" is very simple. There are nine planes and two helicopters in the park of the head of state. Most often, the President of the Russian Federation uses the flagship Il-96-300PU (M) with the number R96016 for numerous business trips, participation in summits, forums, official meetings. This is an upgraded version of the predecessor Yeltsin flew. It first took to the air in 2003. However, Putin may prefer the Tu-154M, Tu-134, Il-62M and Yak-40. All of the listed aircraft escort the dominant aircraft No. 1 of the President of Russia in case of force majeure. When emergency Vladimir Putin will transfer to another one and safely reach his destination. In addition, the president periodically transfers to another plane due to the peculiarities of the airport and the situation at the destination.

What is Putin's Il-96 equipped with?

The board on which the President Russian Federation carries out working trips and pays official visits, has the appropriate equipment. It will make it possible to receive high-ranking and top officials from other countries, to protect the Russian leader from threats and attempts at sabotage.

Protection of the IL-96 is guaranteed from the air and from the ground. In the airspace, the aircraft of the President of Russia is escorted by experienced pilots of a special cover unit. An impressive number of controllers and technicians work on the ground, responsible for the operation of a number of air defense devices that control the moments of takeoff and landing - these are the segments associated with the greatest risk.

Putin's plane is equipped with a set of additional security measures. According to a number of sources, the plane of the President of Russia has its own on-board air defense device, which, by launching an anti-missile, neutralizes a torpedoed missile of intruders. Special camouflage coatings have been installed, thanks to which the aircraft becomes virtually invulnerable to missile guidance and jamming systems. What can we say about all kinds of means of communication, including satellites. Such an abundance of electronic stuffing is due to necessity, not whim.

During the flight to meet with foreign colleagues, the President of Russia works. Under his control is an unimaginable set of tasks that are urgent. Therefore, Putin's plane should not only be reliably protected from all sorts of threats, but also be a mobile version of the office. Vladimir Putin has everything at his fingertips to run the country: computers and office equipment, satellite communication systems, and special communications channels.

What technical "bells and whistles" the plane of Russian President Putin can boast of inside is the merit of the employees of the defense enterprise located in Omsk. They developed and installed a unique radio-electronic "stuffing" of the airliner, thanks to which the Russian leader broadcasts messages encrypted with a special code from any height to anywhere in the world.

The interior of the board number 1 of the President of Russia

In addition to security issues and technological equipment of Putin's aircraft, many are interested in the interior of the airliner. The "flying office" of the head of state must be comfortable, because all conditions must be created for the convenience of work, relaxation of the country's first person, and the reception of high-ranking guests.

According to some media reports, several million rubles were spent on finishing the interior decoration. Walnut veneer wood coverings cost about 15 million. No golden toilet bowls, to the disappointment of those who slander, were installed on Putin's plane. There is a mini-gym, lounges for VIP guests, a dining room, a bar and showers. For safety reasons, the medical unit is equipped with everything necessary to provide emergency medical care.

Above interior decoration salon worked jewelers from Zlatoust. According to unconfirmed reports, the walls are decorated with engravings on historical themes from the craftsmen of the Pavlovo-Posad garment factory. The layout was the responsibility of Diamonite Aircraft Furnishings Ltd to accurately eliminate the "cardboard partitions" previously reported. It is noted that the internal appearance of the IL-96-300 is made mainly in light colors, while preference was given to the Russian tricolor.

The plane of the President of Russia is made in a strict, classic style. This allows us to accept high-ranking guests without hesitation and create an appropriate image for Russia. Some heads of state are slightly overzealous in their desire to demonstrate the wealth and power of the country. For example, the prince Saudi Arabia Alwaleed bin Talala bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on his personal three-story Airbus A380, has an impressive swimming pool and a hall with a symphony orchestra, which brightens up the royal flight with musical accompaniment.

Technical characteristics and features of board No. 1

Russia is one of those few countries that can afford to completely create a plane for the president on their own thanks to a developed aircraft industry. The developer of the liner is the Ilyushin Aviation Complex. The Il-96-300 model, which became the base for aircraft No. 1, has a take-off weight of 250 tons and is capable of speeds exceeding 900 kilometers per hour. The range of non-stop flight exceeds nine thousand kilometers - but this is an indicator of serial samples. How long Putin's plane is able to hold out without landing in the air is not known. The information is classified for security purposes.

Wingspan: 60.1 meters;
Area - 391.6 square meters;
The length of the aircraft is 55.35 meters;
Height - 17.57 meters;
Fuselage diameter - 6.08 meters;
The length of the passenger cabin is 41 meters;
Maximum width - 5.7 meters;
Maximum height - 2.61 meters;
Volume - 350 cubic meters.