Why Spotting This Massive Plane Above Could Signal You Have Just Moments Left To Live

One possibility is relatively straightforward. It could simply be transporting U.S. government officials, as this militarized version of the Boeing 747-200 is sometimes used for high-level travel.

The E-4B is the US Air Force’s militarized version of a Boeing 747 and it towers 63.5 feet above members of the US Air Combat Command Security Forces guarding it during a trip to South Korea in 2013Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images

According to the official mission statement: “The E-4B ‘Nightwatch’ serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a key component of the National Military Command System for the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

“In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities.”

In simpler terms, this plane is designed for situations where key locations like the White House or the Pentagon might be targeted and destroyed by a nuclear strike. It’s a sobering thought when you consider that Washington, D.C., could be a target for adversaries like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un or Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

While there are only four of these specialized planes, each one is kept at the Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. This base is also the home of the U.S. Strategic Command, highlighting the importance of these aircraft in national security.

An air-to-air right side view of an E-4B advanced airborne national command post aircraft being refueled from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraftUSAF

Each E-4B is a massive 231 feet long and stands 63 feet high, with a wingspan measuring 195 feet. Weighing in at a staggering 800,000 pounds, it’s comparable to the weight of 80 African elephants flying through the air.

These planes are also outfitted with state-of-the-art features, including shielding against nuclear and thermal effects, advanced air-conditioning systems to keep electrical components cool, and the ability to refuel mid-flight. This capability allows them to fly for up to 12 hours nonstop, and much longer with in-air refueling.

The cost of one E-4B? A jaw-dropping $223.2 million. At any given time, at least one of these planes is on standby 24/7, ready to provide immediate support to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.