Hi There !

I've now seen two movies which mention that Air Force One has a
detachable pod (with parachute?).  This would presumably be used the
eject the President from the plane, and float him to Earth.

Because most of my knowledge of the world is derived from movies,
billboards, and Pop Tart boxes, I believe there is a 50%-50% chance
the Pod is real (not a Hollywood invention).

A 5-star answer would be 1-3 sentences on this subject.  No supporting
documentation required.

All comments appreciated !


Thanks.
ron

Hi Ron,

All sources indicate that there is no escape pod on Air Force One. 
When the  movie "Air Force One" came out in 1997, President Clinton
stated there was no escape pod.  Although Air Force One may have some
secret features, there is no evidence of the existence of an escape
pod.

---------

I know that you said that no supporting documentation was required,
but I can't help myself.  :-)

There's an interesting RealAudio interview about Air Force One with
Kenneth Walsh who wrote a book about Air Force One.  The interviewer
asked Walsh about the "pod."  Walsh's response:

"No, I get asked that all the time. And there is not an escape pod on
Air Force One. Actually, Presidents joke about that themselves a lot.
It's a Hollywood creation and a great idea, but there's no such thing
on the plane."
source: Ken Walsh [7/16/03]:  
http://www.harrisonline.com/audio/listings/kenwalsh.htm

Walsh's book at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1401300049/


"The plane for example has no escape pod -- at least, that is what the
Air Force says; although they may be working on one.
Nor is it equipped with parachutes -- the massive slipstream created
by an aircraft the size of a 747 means they can't be used."
source: CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/10/22/airforce.one/

"That really cool presidential escape pod? The real plane has nothing
like it. The parachute deck from which passengers leap to safety? Air
Force One doesn't have such a deck. It doesn't even have
parachutes--they can't work in a 747's slipstream. "
source: CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/07/21/time/af1.html

'"As far as I know, there is no escape pod and I don't think we have quite
the arsenal on there, and there's no back door," President Clinton said
Saturday.'
source: Bill Clinton, 1997
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&c2coff=1&selm=01bc99fc%24ba9a1640%242d66ae98%40default

"In case you're wondering, President Truman was just like me -- he
didn't have an escape pod on his plane either. (Laughter.) I might
say, as long as the Air Force is flying me, I don't feel the need for
a way out. (Applause.)"
source: Bill Clinton, 1997
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/legacy/091897-speech-by-president-at-air-force-50th-anniversary-celebration.htm

--------
search strategy:
"air force one" "escape pod"
"has an escape pod" "air force"

Thanks for yet another interesting question!

juggler----this is terrific!  You always go above and beyond.

Thanks!
ron