I’d like to think that they’re figuring out how to set up a soccer ball–controlled Guitar Hero game in the White House, but let’s be realistic. They’re probably watching a crazy YouTube video. Question is which one. What do you think? [Pete Souza via Top Cultured]

Photo by Pete Souza

“You’re exactly what I want the pilot of Air Force One to look like. You look like Sam Shepard [the actor who played Chuck Yeager] in The Right Stuff,” the President says. Indeed he does. And he could have been Yeager himself, as only the finest pilots–with more than 2,000 hours in the cockpit throughout the world and a perfect record–can be on command of this plane.

The pilot has to be really good because he has to be able to dodge every single bullet for the President. Since Air Force One rarely has fighter escort, the plane depends on its own in case of an attack until the cavalry arrives (I don’t know why it doesn’t have escort, but hey, I guess the Secret Service knows better). Back in 1974, for example, the pilot had to execute some extreme evasive actions when four combat airplanes intercepted Air Force One in Syria’s airspace. They weren’t in danger, however: They were just unannounced escorts sent by the always-friendly Syrian government.

The Air Force One is an specially-prepared Boeing 747, a 231-feet long 400-ton aeroplane with a cabin area of 4,000 square feet. Two of them were ordered during the Reagan administration–Nancy decorated them personally–and since then they have been going through plenty of retrofitting, including the addition of attack countermeasures (which are classified), encoded digital communications (28 lines in case of wiretapping, plus 59 non-encrypted), and electromagnetic impulse (EMP) shielding, in case the United States suffers a nuclear attack.

And apparently, they also do great burgers with cheddar cheese and dijon mustard. [National Geographic]

PowerBilt is releasing their line of Air Force One drivers, fairway woods and hybrid clubs with variable face thickness—allowing players to tailor their club to their game. In other words, users with a low swing speed can opt for the thinnest face (for easier compression) while faster swing speeds would require a thicker face. Either way, PowerBilt claims that these clubs can add 10-15 yards of extra distance to your drive. That’s remarkable if it is true, but what may be even more remarkable is that the clubs actually conform to USGA regulations—so you can avoid crippling cheater’s guilt when you step up to the tee. The driver, fairway woods, and hybrids will run you $US500, $US350 and $US250 respectively. [PowerBilt via DVICE and World Golf]