G20 Brisbane: World leaders and their super planes

THE world’s most powerful people have landed in Brisbane for the G20 and everyone wants to know, whose jet is best? And how does Abbott’s plane compare?

South Korea’s 747-400. Picture: Richard Walker

IT’S the talk of the G20 so far - which world leader has the biggest jet?

The world’s most powerful people travel the globe in style. Some with a little more room to stretch their legs than others.

We take a look at the aircraft landing in Brisbane for the world forum this weekend.

How does PM Tony Abbott’s flying transport compare?

* For special coverage of G20 visit the Courier Mail HERE

The daddy of them all, President Barack Obama’s Air Force One. The specially-designed Boeing 747, pictured here in China during the week, is considered the most advanced aircraft in the sky. Picture: Getty

Air Force One is actually two different aircraft operating under the same call sign. The planes are highly customised Boeing 747-200B aircraft that cost an estimated US$325 million each. It can fly one-third the way around the globe without refuelling. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

This is Japan’s version of Air Force One. The 747, seen here landing in Brisbane for the G20, is a 747-400 and the nation has two aircraft it uses for the Emperor and the Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. The aircraft operate under the call sign Cygnus One and Cygnus Two. Picture: Courier Mail

India also operates a Boeing 747-400 to carry its Prime Minister Norendra Modi on international assignments. This aircraft, pictured landing in Brisbane for the G20, flies under the national airline’s flag Air India.

This plane, another 747, arrives in Brisbane carrying South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Picture: AFP

South Korea’s 747-400. Picture: Richard Walker

Not wanting to be seen flying the world in an American-made jet, France’s President Francois Hollande arrived in Brisbane in this French air force Airbus A340. How patriotic.

Mexican President Enrique Pena jets into Brisbane on a Boeing 757, equipped with special winglets for greater fuel effeciency. The 757 is a narrow-body jet with more than 1000 in service around the world. It is a popular variant in the US but is not operated by any Australian airline.

A close up of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto arriving in his 757. In the background is the Saudi Arabian delegation’s mode of transport - a 747-SP, the smallest variant of the Boeing 747 series but designed especially for ultra-long-range flights, Picture: AFP

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz (left) steps off his 747 after arriving at G20. Picture: AFP

The United States also uses the Boeing 757 for its senior leaders. This aircraft was spotted landing in Brisbane.

Russian President Vladimir Putin travels in a nice aircraft than this, but this Russian-built Ilyushin Il-76 jetted into Brisbane carrying his official motorcade. The aicraft type is used by many nations as a heavy transporter but has been involved in numerous fatal crashes, the most recent in 2012 in Congo killing 32 onboard and 26 on the ground. Picture: Peter Wallis

A far newer Ilyushin, the IL-96, at Brisbane International Airport. It is believed this aircraft was transporting Putin’s security detail checking out security for G20. Picture: Mark Cranitch

South African president Jacob Zuma arrived in Brisbane aboard this Boeing 727. The 727 first went into service in 1964 and the last one rolled off the assembly lines in 1984. It was a mainstay of airlines around the world in the 1970s and 1980s, including here in Australia with TAA and Ansett. Almost 200 are still in use around the globe. Picture: Peter Wallis

The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo arrived for the G20 aboard a 737, an aircraft similar to that used by Australia’s Prime Minister. Picture: Darren England

The official aircraft used by our Prime Minister. The RAAF has two 737-700 aircraft in operation to transport the PM around the globe. The 737 is one of the most popular airliners in the sky and considered a workhorse of the industry. But it is a lot smaller than the super jets used by other world leaders.