Kim Jong Un's Own Personal Air Force One

Korean leader Kim Jong Un is likely to use personal Ilyushin- 62M for his trip to Singapore for the summit with President Donald Trump, the same one he used in his recent trip to neighboring China.

Kim only made his first international trip last month since becoming his country’s leader in 2011. The jet is named Chammae-1 after his country’s national bird, the Goshawk.

The jet is a Soviet-era airliner first conceived in Russia in the 1960s and the last pieces being produced in the mid 1990s.

It used to be the world’s biggest jet airliner when it was first flown in 1963. It’s 50 meters long and could carry around 200 passengers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS &gt; Kim Jong Un&#39;s private jet inside and out <a href="http://t.co/JeItleBl0A">http://t.co/JeItleBl0A</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4F?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4F</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FB100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FB100</a>%</p>&mdash; Follow Back 100% (@_FB100) <a href="https://twitter.com/_FB100/status/568031788339105792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Concerns were raised as to whether such an old plane can reach longer distances travel, one reason perhaps why the Korean delegation chose Singapore as destination for the talks instead of Geneva since Singapore is much nearer to North Korea being both in Asia. The Ilyushin-62 M has a range of about 10,000 kilometers which puts Singapore safely within non-stop flying distance.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This appears to be Kim Jong Un’s ride to Singapore. It was stated he leaves Sunday (which will be Saturday for us in the U.S.) As I wrote earlier, he will be taking a foreign (Chinese or Singaporean) jet direct, Air China A330 it seems now. More here: <a href="https://t.co/U9yCmT2Ihi">https://t.co/U9yCmT2Ihi</a> <a href="https://t.co/T0ak1r75Dq">https://t.co/T0ak1r75Dq</a></p>&mdash; Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1005365289909813254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2018</a></blockquote>

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There were also concerns, however, whether Kim’s jet has the mechanical reliability and advanced communication systems common of modern planes.

Kim’s cargo plane also always carries things like his limousine, so it can’t really fly with a full load and might require stopping over to refuel along the way.

Kim’s plane does not compare in scale to the highly secure and luxurious Air Force One that Trump will be using as usual. The Air Force One meant for the sitting U.S. president is a custom-built Boeing 747 that has a presidential suite, medical facilities, restaurant-style kitchen and various defense systems.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Touchdown Air Force One touchdown. President Trump arrives for the first time in Canada <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G7</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G7Charlevoix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G7Charlevoix</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G7Summit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G7Summit</a> <a href="https://t.co/4zi5UQEBPd">pic.twitter.com/4zi5UQEBPd</a></p>&mdash; Mercedes Stephenson (@CTVMercedes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CTVMercedes/status/1005099325733695489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump gives reporters a look inside Air Force One<a href="https://t.co/oI08CGubFg">pic.twitter.com/oI08CGubFg</a></p>&mdash; Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/824742585533157376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">6 Breathtaking Pictures of inside Trump’s presidential jet, Air force one (Photos) <a href="https://t.co/LZWEnqYOoE">https://t.co/LZWEnqYOoE</a> <a href="https://t.co/lubGpNzv4f">pic.twitter.com/lubGpNzv4f</a></p>&mdash; bola denise (@boladenise1) <a href="https://twitter.com/boladenise1/status/809766610303090688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2016</a></blockquote>

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Kim’s plane’s interiors have been updated, however, to give it a more modern look. Some are even calling the jet a remodeled Air Force One.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">See inside Kim Jong Un&#39;s remodeled Air Force One <a href="http://t.co/SKjdcFYY8c">http://t.co/SKjdcFYY8c</a> <a href="http://t.co/hSlvJ08Bef">pic.twitter.com/hSlvJ08Bef</a></p>&mdash; Jalopnik (@Jalopnik) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jalopnik/status/567098011738980352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2015</a></blockquote>

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There is also news that North Korea’s neighbor and perennial ally, China, could send fighter jets to escort Kim travels to Singapore for the summit with Trump.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">► Chinese Fighter Jets To Accompany North Korean President KIM JONG UN To Singapore Summit<a href="https://t.co/rkczkUXxko">https://t.co/rkczkUXxko</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorthKorea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorthKorea</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KimJongUn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KimJongUn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Singapore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Singapore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FighterJets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FighterJets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAFA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAFA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConsciousAwarenessForAll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ConsciousAwarenessForAll</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeritFreeman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeritFreeman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayConsciousMyFriends?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayConsciousMyFriends</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KnowledgeIsPower?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KnowledgeIsPower</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SharingIsCaring?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SharingIsCaring</a></p>&mdash; Merit Freeman (@MeritFreeman) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeritFreeman/status/1005242274853384199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Aside from providing Kim with extra security, such move is being viewed as China sending a strong message, especially to the U.S. that it is strongly backing up Kim and his regime, and also as a means to boost Beijing’s influence in the summit.

Kim is also known to be extra paranoid when it comes to his security. It is expected that he is to fly to Singapore through China’s airspace to ensure his security as he is protected by China along the way.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He has to get on a plane to Singapore, and North Korea just has to trust it won&#39;t get blown out of the sky. <a href="https://t.co/8JewA4azAm">https://t.co/8JewA4azAm</a> <a href="https://t.co/MYTA2fVpRS">https://t.co/MYTA2fVpRS</a></p>&mdash; Johannes Wirawan (@johannesbambang) <a href="https://twitter.com/johannesbambang/status/1004526783394394112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Source:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/how-kim-jong-un-is-getting-from-north-korea-to-singapore/9848014