Warbird Information Exchange

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

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Keep your PDI centered!

Sweet!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
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