Columbine II "the original Air Force One"

[Left Seat]

Here's a nice video of Columbine II (Lockheed VC-121A-LO Constellation):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je7sTk1oQMs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=oaSUFQVYvg4

[Pat Carry]

Here's a nice video of Columbine II (Lockheed VC-121A-LO Constellation):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je7sTk1oQMs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=oaSUFQVYvg4

Sweet!

[C VEICH]

Very well done video and congrats to the crew that got her back together for the trip. Reminds me of just how incredibly lucky I was to have been witness to Vern Raburn's MATS Connie on numerous occasions and just how much I am saddened by what eventually transpired with it. The older Connies are the most beautiful of the breed as far as I am concerned. Truly hope "Columbine II" does indeed get the attention she deserves and is returned to flight status in the not too distant future.

[dc8jet]

I would think Roosevelt's C-54 Sacred Cow would be the original Air Force One.

[Mark Sampson]

I suppose the real question here is "When did anyone begin referring to an aircraft carrying the President as Air Force One?" FDR was also a passenger in a Pan Am Boeing 314 at least once. My ignorant guess would be that the title did not come into use until there actually was an Air Force. I am very happy to see this airplane flying, however it is called.

[CAPFlyer]

Based on what I've read, Columbine II was the first to actually be called "Air Force 1" on the radio. It stems from an incident in 1953/54 where there was an "Eastern 8610" on the same frequency as FDR's Columbine II, "Air Force 8610" (Columbine II having the serial of 48-0610). Because of this, the Air Force decided to eliminate the problem by assigning "Air Force 1" to any aircraft occupied by the President. This had several knock-on positives as well because it allowed for quick recognition by all ATC that the aircraft had priority handling when the flight strip was received, even when the aircraft flew overseas.

[Matt Gunsch]

The first Air force One was a Connie, The name came about because of an incident where radio calls were confused between the AF Connie and an airline with a similar number. To prevent it from happening again, the ID Air Force One was adopted