Original Air Force One flies again

VIDEO The original Air Force One, a 1948 Lockheed Constellation, has been rescued from an aircraft scrapyard in Arizona and flown across the USA to be restored to the standard when first used by President Eisenhower in 1953.

The Lockheed, nicknamed ‘Columbine II’ after the official state flower of Colorado by First Lady Maimie Eisenhower, had been kept in the open-air ‘boneyard’ near Tucson, Arizona for 20 years. It has been bought by Karl Stolzfus whose company, Dynamic Aviation, based in Bridgewater, Virginia will restore it over the next five years.

The official title ‘Air Force One’ was given to the President’s plane in 1953 after air traffic controllers became confused with two aircraft having the same callsign, a commercial airliner (8610) and Eisenhower’s Lockheed (Air Force 8610). They were both cleared to the same airspace and a potentially dangerous situation. ‘Air Force One’ was reportedly invented on the spot by a controller and the title stuck.

The Constellation is in surprising good condition despite being stored in the open for so long. One of the four, 18-cylinder, 2,500hp Wright R-3350 engines had to be replaced, as did all the hoses and seals, and all systems checked during a year-long preparation. But apart from a fuel leak which developed during the ferry flight, the Constellation flew well.

The aircraft took nine hours flight time in two stages to complete the flight. “At one point we had 234 mph across the ground. The ol’ girl was up and getting it done!” said Brian Miklos, leader of Dynamic Aviation’s team.

When the Lockheed is restored owner Stolzfus plans to display it on the airshow circuit. [Main photo:  Dynamic Aviation]

Video of the original Air Force One