AF1 range/route/refueling?

David Lesher wrote:

Was there an unannounced refueling stop? I know the 747B's have
capability for in-flight refueling but doubt they would do that.

Why would you doubt that?

A friend was on a KC10 that got refueled twice en-route to Africa.
He vividly described the number of PX's who lost their lunch into
the issued barf bags. The only reason for the refueling was proficiency
practice for the crew.

I doubt the AF1 crew practices that aspect that all that often, and
in fact don't know it's ever been used. I'll let BUFDVR etc comment
but I'd always read it was somewhat risky maneuver on the best days.

Any aircrew flying the aircraft would have specific currency
requirements for Air Refuelling, and if the crew isn't current
in it, they won't be flying on any operational mission. As far
as getting practice, they fly many sorties without passengers
specifically to get their various currencies updated.

As for air refuelling being risky, I don't think it is all
that risky, and I do it regularly in a C-130 behind both
KC-135s and -10s. C-141s and C-5s carrying both passengers
and cargo refuel as necessary based on their mission profiles,
AFAIK.

Mike