"Columbine III, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Air Force One plane, remains the only aircraft of its kind ever built. The Lockheed VC-121E was a militarized version of a commercial Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, nicknamed "Super Connies" for their powerful engines and large fuel capacities. Columbine III was also the first plane to carry the Air Force One designation from the beginning of its service."
"President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew on Columbine III from 1954 until 1961, when his second term ended. Eisenhower named Columbine III after the state flower of Colorado in honor of his wife, Mamie Eisenhower, who was raised there. The first lady christened the plane in 1954 with spring water from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado instead of the traditional Champagne."
"The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, acquired Eisenhower's plane in 1966. After Columbine III retired from service as Air Force One, it spent a few years serving as an Air Force transport for VIPs. The aircraft was then flown to Dayton to join the museum's collection in 1966. It is now one of several historic Air Force One planes on display in the William E. Boeing Presidential Gallery."
Columbine III was a Lockheed VC-121E militarized from the commercial L-1049 Super Constellation and served as President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Air Force One from 1954 to 1961. The aircraft featured multiple seating areas, a presidential stateroom, and a spacious bathroom, and used powerful engines with large fuel capacity characteristic of the Super Constellation design. The plane was named for Colorado's state flower in honor of Mamie Eisenhower and was christened in 1954 with Rocky Mountain spring water instead of champagne. After retirement it served as an Air Force VIP transport and was acquired by the National Museum of the United States Air Force in 1966, where it is publicly displayable in the William E. Boeing Presidential Gallery.
Read at Business Insider
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