How does Xi Jinping’s ‘special plane’ compare with Air Force One?

China’s leader’s aircraft is expected to form part of the visual choreography of his state visit in Washington, even as it remains far less familiar globally than Air Force One.

A less-known presidential aircraft

The aircraft carrying China’s leader is often described in state media and official statements as a zhuan ji, or special plane.

It is far less known to the world than Air Force One, despite both China and the United States using Boeing 747s for presidential travel.

That contrast is central to how the two aircraft are viewed: Air Force One is globally recognisable, while Xi Jinping’s special plane is described in the source as comparatively less known.

More than transport

For any head of state, a presidential aircraft is more than a means of transport.

Its range, on-board facilities and security systems reflect the practical demands of presidential travel and diplomatic missions.

The aircraft also becomes part of the visual choreography of a state visit, not merely a vehicle that delivers the leader to a destination.

In that sense, it can be one of the first symbols of a country to arrive in the host country, appearing in the sky before the president steps onto the tarmac.

Source: South China Morning Post