You won't see kings, presidents, or prime ministers on standard commercial flights, even in first class, due to the need to keep them safe. Heads of state usually fly by private jet, although in many countries special government airliners are provided for them, sometimes making up an entire fleet. Such aircraft offer excellent comfort, have separate rooms of different profiles and allow you to work during the flight.
Russia
Vladimir Putin uses planes from the fleet of the Rossiya special flight squadron. Among them are four variants of the Il-96-300 model. The Il-96-300PU(M) stands out, a version that offers more comfort and luxury compared to the standard versions. The abbreviation "PU" in the name indicates "control room".
First flown in 2003, the aircraft has been nicknamed the "Flying Kremlin." Its interior includes a presidential office, meeting rooms, a conference room and a luxurious lounge for guests, plus an advanced communication system that allows you to send encrypted messages anywhere. The cabin of this aircraft has many amenities that are not available to ordinary passengers: a mini-gym, a dining room, a bar, a shower and a full-profile sick bay for emergency care and resuscitation.
The aircraft was specially ordered and built in Voronezh. It is believed that over $50 million was spent on its equipment and interiors. It should be noted that these costs do not involve excesses; There are no notorious golden toilets and other things of the "expensive-rich" genre on board.
This aircraft is equipped with four updated PS-90A engines, and professionals from Diamond Aircraft Industries were responsible for the design and technical part. The interior is made in light shades, focusing on the colors of the Russian flag. As a décor in the salon there are engravings on historical themes, on which masters from the Pavlovo-Posad silk manufactory worked.
United States
The President of the United States of America travels on an aircraft that is commonly known as Air Force One: this is not just the name, but the call sign of any aircraft carrying the President of the country. De facto, this name refers to the Boeing VC-25, which is the central part of the presidential air fleet. This model is a military variant of the civilian Boeing 747.
The VC-25 is often joined by a Marine One helicopter, which serves to transport the president to the airport when travel by land is difficult or impossible. If the First Lady or Vice President is on board, the call sign changes to Air Force One Foxtrot.
Inside the VC-25, the left side is occupied by a long corridor, and the offices are on the right. The front of the plane is known as the White House: it is where the president's official quarters are located. This section is followed by the reception hall. The presidential private area includes a bedroom with two sofas that convert into beds, a bathroom and the Oval Office on board number one. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, a live-streaming feature was added from this account.
It is worth noting the medical compartment with an operating table on board, the presence of a doctor and a nurse on each flight. Meals for passengers can be prepared directly on board in the well-equipped kitchen, which can serve up to 100 people at a time.
United Kingdom
At the time of the last data update (January 2022), the King or Queen of the United Kingdom and senior members of the government often travel in a BAe 146 type aircraft operated by No. 32 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. This four-engine jet is well-suited for short to medium distances and is often chosen for domestic and international flights. In addition, the UK operates the Voyager, a modified air tanker based on the Airbus A330 that, in addition to its main tasks, can be used to transport senior members of the government and the royal family over longer distances. Voyager provides a higher level of comfort and additional features for long flights.
In recent years, the royal family has made several world tours, including official visits to New Zealand, Australia, India, Bhutan and Canada. All these journeys are accompanied by a doctor from the medical service of the British Navy and a small retinue of 10-20 people.
It is important to note that two members of the royal family cannot be on the same plane at the same time - this is designed to ensure the safety of the British monarchy. By the way, William can travel in the same plane with Prince George only until the latter reaches the age of 12 - then the boy will have to fly separately from his parents.
Before each trip, Buckingham Palace contacts the chefs in the countries the monarch visits and clarifies the menu. One of the prerequisites is the presence of a minimum amount of seasonings in dishes to keep the breath of royalty fresh. And British monarchs do not eat seafood when they are guests: they say that it is easy to poison them.
Vatican
The Pope, during his travels, is always accompanied by officials from the Vatican and his own press service. On each trip, he takes with him a small bag, in which he keeps a liturgical book with the texts of prayers (breviary), a notebook with a schedule of upcoming meetings, a reading book and a razor. Despite being the head of the Catholic Church, the pope travels modestly and usually rents a regular passenger airliner from Alitalia, he does not have his own aircraft.
Morocco
The King of Morocco travels around the country in a Mercedes, accompanied by a motorcade of guards. For foreign trips, he uses a personal Boeing 747 with a cinema and a pool table on board: the monarch is not used to denying himself pleasures. Throughout the year, 12 royal palaces across the country are ready for the king's arrival: for example, they maintain a constant temperature of 17 degrees, regardless of weather conditions.
The monarch also has an impressive collection of cars, including brands such as Aston Martin, Maybach, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari.
Germany
The head of the German government uses Airbus A340-313X VIP for his air movements. The aircraft was handed over to the authorities in 2009 by Lufthansa after a decade of flying on regular routes. The aircraft is named after the first head of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer.
Inside the aircraft, there are blocks of rooms for the head of government, including a bedroom, a shower and a study. Also on board are a conference room and a special room for confidential conversations with a high degree of sound insulation. To ensure the safety of the aircraft, a friend-or-foe system and missile protection are installed. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with additional fuel tanks, which allow you to fly more than 13.5 thousand kilometers without additional refueling. For example, this is enough for a flight from Berlin to Washington or Tokyo.
The Airbus A340 has a wingspan of 60 meters and a length of more than 75 meters. Although the standard Airbus A340 model is capable of accommodating almost 300 passengers, the version intended for the German government is designed for only 143 people. In addition to the Konrad Adenauer, the German government also owns another Airbus A340, the Theodor Heuss, which is a complete twin of the Konrad Adenauer. It is worth noting that until 2009, the chancellor and members of the government used two Airbus A310-304 VIPs, and they were called exactly the same.
