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The future of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) has begun flight and ground testing, with risk-reduction testing crucial to ensure on-time delivery of this state-of-the-art aircraft to the United States Air Force. The SAOC is an aircraft trusted by the President and other security leaders to support critical airborne command, control, and communication in the event of national emergencies, sometimes dubbed the doomsday aircraft.
The Boeing 747-8 has been spotted taking to the skies above Dayton, Ohio, in the last month, with flights taking up to six or seven hours off the United States east coast. The 747-8 is one of five purchased from Korean Air, with four already delivered and one more to go.
N747SN: Ex Korean Air 747-8
The aircraft, spotted by aviation enthusiasts who took to social media, has been identified as a 747-8 bearing registration N747SN. The plane was one of five from Korean Air, and had been delivered to Sierra Nevada Corporation in January. Previously, the plane was operated by Korean since it was delivered brand new in October 2015.
|
Korean Air Registration |
HL7632 |
|---|---|
|
Sierra Nevada Corporation Registration |
N747SN |
|
Serial Number (MSN) |
40907 |
|
Hex Code |
71BE32 |
|
Type |
Boeing 747-8B5 |
For the global and aerospace national security company, the risk reduction flight testing for the SAOC is aimed at reducing risk development and to ensure the on-time delivery of the converted aircraft. Test flights are set to establish the technical design baseline and will take off from Dayton International Airport(DAY) , Ohio, and Wichita, Kansas.
So far, the SNC has achieved all planned milestones, and just six weeks after being awarded the contract, it received the first of five 747-8 aircraft in Dayton. As part of the project, SNC also celebrated the opening of a second hangar and the groundbreaking for two additional hangars currently under construction.
Simple Flying contacted the Air Force for a statement, but a representative could not be immediately reached.
SAOC Test Flights Continue To Track On Schedule
Looking at flight data, the test flight has been taking place since February, with five dates across that month seeing the aircraft in the air for periods exceeding 4.5 hours.
This month, the SNC has ramped up testing, with Flightradar24 identifying the recent trip on Friday, in which the 747-8 was in the air for six hours, flying across the eastern seaboard and into the Atlantic Ocean, while onboard testing continues. The recent flight took the plane out over Columbus, Pittsburgh, and the skies of Philadelphia, then took a number of twists and turns over the open ocean south of Long Island and Nantucket.
This plane is part of the future of the SAOC, with the plane being converted into a new ‘Doomsday’ aircraft, which is destined to replace the aging E-4B fleet of airplanes. The United States Air Force will maintain the aircraft and has been working with SNC closely to develop and track the inbound aircraft.
Former Korean Boeing 747-8 Set To Become USAF Doomsday Plane
The quadjet touched down in Hamburg yesterday.
What Are The E-4B Aircraft
Known as the E-47B Nightwatch, this 747-200 is a highly modified aircraft designed to serve as a National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) for the US President, Secretary of Defense, and Chiefs of Staff during national emergencies or the risk of nuclear war. The United States Air Force maintains four of these aircraft, with one always ready on standby.
The E-4B features specialized nuclear hardening and advanced communications and can act as a flying Pentagon to maintain control if ground command centers were to be destroyed and direct the United States Armed Forces.
These unique aircraft have served as a flying Pentagon for decades and are a crucial part of the US national defense system. The next generation of aircraft is expected to become operational by 2036.
