Guided Tour Inside the E-4B NAOC Doomsday Plane
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Published 2013-09-30
The Boeing E-4 National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), with the project name "Nightwatch", is an aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). To create the E-4 series, four Boeing 747-200B airframes were specially modified to serve as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority, namely the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and successors. The four E-4Bs are operated by the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron of the 55th Wing located at Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, Nebraska. An E-4B is denoted a "National Airborne Operations Center" when in action.
For detailed info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4#Design
Upper deck: Flight deck
Middle deck: Conference room, Aft of the conference room is a projection room, Operations team area, Technical Control area, Rest area.
Forward entry area: the main galley unit and stairways to the flight deck and to the forward lower equipment area, NCA area, Briefing room, Communications control area, Flight avionics area
Lower Lobe:
The forward lower equipment room contains the aircraft's water supply tanks, 1200 kVA electrical power panels, step down transformers, VLF transmitter and SHF SATCOM equipment. AC/DC powered hydraulic retractable Airstair is located in the forward right side of the forward lower equipment area, are installed for airplane entry and exit. In the event of an emergency, the airstair can be jettisoned if necessary. The aft lower lobe contains the maintenance console and mission specific equipment.
The lower trailing wire antenna (TWA) area contains the aircraft's 5 mile long TWA reel, which is used by up to 13 communications links -- the antenna operator's station, as well as the antenna reel controls and indicators. Much attention has been given to hardening this area against EMP, especially as the TWA, essential for communicating with ballistic missile submarines, is also particularly effective in picking up EMP.
All Comments (21)
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Good to know that in the event of a nuclear attack, the E-4B will be able to fax anyone on earth.
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I worked on this plane for 9 years as a maintainer. I flew with it for 7 years and was involved in the communications upgrade in the mid 2000s. You should have seen the old equipment from the 60s. This is still my favorite airplane I ever had the pleasure to work on. It is an amazing plane.
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“This double cassette tape player can play and record at the same time. We love new bands like Depeche Mode”
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All operated by windows 95 home
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A 5 mile long antenna, tens of thousands of feet up in the air... A ham operator's dream setup.
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This is the old Doomsday Aircraft. The New One is so Classified that it's mind blowing.
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“If they have a phone and their not vaporized, we can talk with them!” Lol
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the tour guide has the enthusiasm of Eeyore
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Military buys the latest and best stuff, everyone complains about the money they spent. Military uses old gear that still works but looks old and everyone complains about how old and worn it looks.
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Workstations, printer, copy machine, fax... so basically even if the world ends people will still have to put in their 9-5 at the office.
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To all of the people making fun of this plane for being old, this plane is still currently in use by the US Air Force today. The reason it hasn't been updated is because all of this old equipment is less susceptible to an EMP blast from nuclear bombs... so stop hating.
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5:43 most advanced and technically capable mobile office space in the world. Has a "do not break" label on the printer tray.
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Wow. When I was in the USAF working for NORAD in the trailing years of the Cold War, this film would have been Top Secret or above. Really neat to be able to see it. I worked in a ground facility very similar to this one that flies. Amazing how they pack so much in so small a space.
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pilot slaps wing of plane This baby can hold so much 8 bit technology!
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Damn. Everything is EMP proofed, and the computers set to basic communication. This plane really is a flying doomsday command center.
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Blows my mind this planes main function is to make a phone call
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lol, "these are printers, so we can print stuff" puts hand on giant, ancient drum thing.
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I treasure my years working aboard the then named National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP) as a communications crewmember (Team One). Highlight of my AF career was flying Pres. Reagan from San Antonio back to Washington DC. Changing callsigns to "Air Force One" was intense. Sharing jelly beans with the President was another moment I'll never forget!
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I was part of a team that did a wing/strut mod on this bird 25 years ago
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This is what I get in my reccomended videos. What have I watched.
