A historic airplane has returned to the skies as Columbine II, a 1948 Lockheed C-121A Constellation that holds the claim to fame of being the very first airplane to be called Air Force One, took off yesterday from the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona, where it has been parked since 2003.
First Air Force One Returns to Flight
Key Takeaways:
- Columbine II, the 1948 Lockheed C-121A Constellation that was the first airplane to be called Air Force One, has returned to the skies after being parked since 2003.
- The historic aircraft, which served as President Dwight D. Eisenhower's primary plane from 1952-1954, was purchased by Dynamic Aviation and restored with help from Mid America Flight Museum.
- Following its initial flight from Arizona to Texas, Columbine II will continue to Virginia for further restoration to airshow quality, with the "Air Force One" call sign originating from a near-collision incident involving the plane.
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