Aircraft Was President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 'Air Force One' From 1952-54

Will President Eisenhower’s “Columbine II” fly again?

A Bridgewater, VA company is exploring the possibility of returning Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Columbine II” to the air. The 1948 USAF Lockheed C-121A Constellation and the first presidential aircraft to be called “Air Force One,” is presently languishing in the Arizona desert.

Dynamic Aviation, who offers a variety of aviation services to government and commercial customers, is exploring the viability of purchasing and preserving Columbine II as a symbol to future generations of America’s values at that time in our history.

Several key questions remain unanswered including the availability of certain Constellation parts and the specific engines and propellers that Columbine II requires. Dynamic Aviation is conducting a worldwide search in the hope that these essential items can be located and acquired, otherwise they see no way to pursue the preservation of this national treasure.

Columbine II was retired by the USAF in 1968 and sold surplus in 1970. It then sat in salvage yards in Arizona until 1990 when it was made airworthy again. After flying a few hours it was parked in Marana, AZ in 2003 and has not been aloft since.

Columbine II is mostly intact including its 2500-HP, Wright R-3350 engines and much of the original interior, instruments, avionics, and other important historical details, but is at risk of being scrapped because of the complexity and cost of preparing it for flight.

It is sincerely hoped that it can be returned to fully airworthy status and to participate in the air show circuit, but the present proposal is to fly it from Marana, AZ to Bridgewater, VA, where it will be further assessed and a final determination made as to its future.

Assistance is being sought to locate parts that are needed to ferry the aircraft (one lower cowling is missing) and then to restore and maintain it, including brake parts, engines and more. Assuming that the current evaluation process determines Columbine II to be a viable project, help at all skill levels will be needed to prepare it for ferry flight. Mid-America Flight Museum and others have already offered to assist in the project in various ways.

(Images provided by Dynamic Aviation)

FMI: www.john2031.com/columbine/main.html