Vladimir Putin flies in a modernized and heavily modified Ilyushin II96300PU. And it has already been renamed Putin Force One. According to the designer’s official website, the base is that of a quadjet longrange widebody, ie powered by four jet engines and equipped with a fuselage wide enough to accommodate two passenger aisles with seven or more seats abreast. It was designed by the Ilyushin Aviation Complex and manufactured by the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association. According to Simple Flying, the Russian presidential plane will cost around $504 million.
The Putin Air Force: 4 engines
The four jet engines that power the aircraft are produced by Russian engine manufacturer Aviadvigatel and are also used in the Tupolev Tu204 and Tupolev Tu214 series, two of the most common airliners in Russia and essentially similar to the Boeing 757. The mid1980s The Ilyushin II96 first flew in 1988 and was first deployed on a commercial route by Russian airline giant Aeroflot in December 1992. The commercial version of the presidential plane entered service the following year. Although almost identical to the traditional Ilyushin II96300, the Ilyushin II96300PU differs not only by the letters “PU” denoting presidential aircraft.
An airplane ready for a war
Like all presidential planes, the Putin Air Force is equipped with an advanced communications system and missile defense. Not only that: from the sky, more precisely from the war control room in flight, the tsar can press the button to activate the nuclear bomb.
The golden bath
At first glance, the presidential aircraft is not too dissimilar to standard aircraft operated by Rossiya, one of Russia’s oldest and largest airlines. As with Rossiya aircraft, the fuselage, wings and tail are mostly white. And since Rossiya aircraft carry the Russian flag on the tail, the Presidential aircraft also features the Russian President’s Banner Coat of Arms on the front. The interior, on the other hand, is inspired by Russian art and features birch wood furniture. Of course, Putin has spared no expense and his fighter jet is outfitted with all the trappings of the Russian elite. The interiors are adorned with gold ornaments and the toilet seat itself (as well as the bidet) is solid gold.
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