Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
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Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jun 10, 2014 2:11:21 GMT 9
Here's a little tidbit of history I think you will enjoy watching.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- I saw this airplane twice while at Sioux City Air Base.
The first time it brought SECDEF Charles Wilson, former GM boss, to Sioux City for a campaign stop.
As I recall he met the Base and Group commanders, but that was it.
The Connie was parked on the 13th FIS ramp, after the F-86Ds normally parked there were moved away from that area.
The parking area was next to the fence between the airport automobile parking area and the 13th Ramp.
The second time was in 1956, when it brought Vice President Nixon and his wife Pat to Sioux City for a campaign event.
Parked in the same area.
We knew in advance what was going to occur.
One of our Saber Dogs was named Pretty Pat, so the Nixons were brought to the fighter ramp and met the pilot and his wife.
I was the Assistant Flight Chief of the flight that Saber was in.
We made sure we had clean fatigues, polished brogans and not needing a haircut before we came to work that day.
Also the plane had been given a wipedown, so no fluids were dripping.
There were four or five of us from the flight, including the crew chief, Bob Harrison and his wife Evie, who were introduced to the Nixons, along with the squadron commander and the group and base commanders.
Once the dignitaries left for Sioux City, our flight operations began for the after-noon.
They flew out during the night when things on the fighter ramp were shut down for the night.
Columbine II should be at the Air Force Museum at Wright Pat, with the other Air Force Ones that are there.
That does not include the one at the Reagan Library in California.
Jim Too
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Post by LBer1568 on Jun 10, 2014 8:28:10 GMT 9
I had the pleasure of working as a contractor in developing Electrical diagrams and wiring lists for Air Force One Boeing 747. As a final signoff, we got to go to Andrews on official TDY and get a guided tour of one of the AF One aircraft. There have been several AF One Aircraft during the history of the birds. They are only AF One when the President is on-board. The USAF Museum has one of each type AF One seeing service. The Museum has one of the Super Connie AF One aircraft. They also have one of the two 707 AF One aircraft and will one day have one of the two 747-200 currently in use. I don't think having two of the same type and designation aircraft adds anything to the history of the museum. Having one F-106 is enough to show visitors what they were like. Space and resources are very limited for USAF Museum. They just broke ground on a new addition to try to bring more Aircraft into the hanger and out of the weather. But with all the new space, they have more Aircraft awaiting space than the new hanger brings. And every year seems to bring additional airframes for restoration and display. Since I have returned to Fairborn, I have invited my brother to come spend a couple days with me going through the museum. He hasn't been to museum in last 15 years so it will be a new adventure for him. Lorin
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jun 10, 2014 9:12:29 GMT 9
I didn't check to see if there was already one in the Museum inventory.
They have Columbine III, which was the second Connie Ike used.
But, Columbine II certainly deserves better than to sit in a Boneyard.
Jim Too
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Post by Mark O on Jun 11, 2014 13:48:20 GMT 9
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Post by Jim on Feb 17, 2015 0:55:41 GMT 9
I didn't check to see if there was already one in the Museum inventory.
They have Columbine III, which was the second Connie Ike used.
But, Columbine II certainly deserves better than to sit in a Boneyard.
Jim Too
On FOX NEWS this AM
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Feb 17, 2015 1:54:33 GMT 9
For some reason, the story will not play.
There is a note that keeps coming on their screen that it is not able to be viewed.
Don't know if Fox deleted the story, or some other problem.
Was it any different than the other video that was posted?
Jim Too
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Post by Jim on Feb 17, 2015 2:24:15 GMT 9
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Feb 17, 2015 4:54:46 GMT 9
All four links worked.
Jim Too
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Post by pat perry on Mar 25, 2016 20:14:27 GMT 9
An update of the fate of Columbine II (In memory of Pastor Jim who started this thread Jun 9, 2014)
Columbine II, The Former Presidential Lockheed VC-121A-LO, Has Taken To The Skies Once Again!
bangshift.com/general-news/videos/columbine-ii-the-former-presidential-lockheed-vc-121a-lo-has-taken-to-the-skies-once-again/
See video link on the website with the takeoff filmed by a news helicopter.
Excerpt: One of the few remaining Lockheed Constellations left in the world is a lot more than it initially appears. Serial Number 48-0610 isn’t a Constellation, but a VC-121A-LO, a special VIP layout of the basic Connie platform, and this particular aircraft, Columbine II, is historic: one of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s aircraft during his tenure, Columbine II is distinctive for being the first Presidential aircraft to receive the “Air Force One” call sign, which was done after the Lockheed, with Eisenhower on board and calling “Air Force Flight 8610″, had a near-miss over New York City with Eastern Airlines Flight 8610. “Air Force One” now designates any government-owned fixed-wing aircraft that the President is currently occupying.
The VC-121A was sold in 1970 in a lot of five Constellations to an Idaho farmer named Mel Chrysler, who wanted to convert them to sprayers. Columbine II was so far gone at that point that he left it as spares, but when the Smithsonian Institute informed Chrysler that he owned the only Presidential aircraft ever sold, he stopped his plans of scrapping the aircraft and started shopping it around. The Lockheed was purchased last year by Karl Stoltzfus Sr., the founder of Dynamic Aviation. After being brought up to a flightworthy status, Columbine II is now on a cross-country journey to Dynamic Aviation’s headquarters where further mechanical and cosmetic restoration will take place. Once the VC-121A is restored, plans are in place to tour the United States.
Pat P.
[RIP Jim Too]
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Post by Gene on Mar 26, 2016 1:16:00 GMT 9
JFKs 707 AIRFORCE 1 is in the boeing museum in Seattle. i went thru it... very interesting a/c. ...
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Post by Gene on Mar 31, 2016 0:57:37 GMT 9
First Air Force One Flies Again
The first presidential plane to be designated Air Force One was saved from the boneyard and is airworthy again, reported Warbirds News. Dynamic Aviation bought former President Dwight Eisenhower's presidential aircraft, the Lockheed VC-121A Constellation Columbine II, and spent a year rehabbing the historic prop-liner in Marana, Ariz., before ferrying it to the company's headquarters in Bridgewater, Va., on March 23. The cross-country trip ended with a four-hour flight from Mount Pleasant, Texas. Dynamic Aviation founder Karl Stoltzfus expects the aircraft will need three more years of extensive interior and exterior restoration before returning to the air show circuit. (See video of the landing in Bridgewater here.)... from airforce mag. online
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Post by Jim on Mar 31, 2016 2:38:11 GMT 9
First Air Force One Flies Again The first presidential plane to be designated Air Force One was saved from the boneyard and is airworthy again, reported Warbirds News. Dynamic Aviation bought former President Dwight Eisenhower's presidential aircraft, the Lockheed VC-121A Constellation Columbine II, and spent a year rehabbing the historic prop-liner in Marana, Ariz., before ferrying it to the company's headquarters in Bridgewater, Va., on March 23. The cross-country trip ended with a four-hour flight from Mount Pleasant, Texas. Dynamic Aviation founder Karl Stoltzfus expects the aircraft will need three more years of extensive interior and exterior restoration before returning to the air show circuit. (See video of the landing in Bridgewater here.)... from airforce mag. online Hey Gene, copy and paste the link please
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Post by Gene on Mar 31, 2016 5:50:45 GMT 9
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Post by Jim on Mar 31, 2016 8:20:30 GMT 9
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Post by Mark O on Mar 31, 2016 9:17:27 GMT 9
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Post by pat perry on Mar 31, 2016 9:51:56 GMT 9
Jim, Try this link
www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Pages/2016/March%202016/March%2030%202016/First-Air-Force-One-Flies-Again.aspx
Jim, when I used Gene's link, my own Hotmail email page showed up. That's because there's a cookie in my PC that says, "Whenever this IP address clicks this link, show him his Hotmail page".
Whenever you see a page that you want to share the URL, it's always a good idea to find a blank space on the page and do a right mouse click and select "Properties". That will show you the correct URL for that page and you can copy it and paste it into your forum post or email.
The way I found Gene's article: I googled Air Force Magazine. That gave me the home page. Then I did a search on Air Force One and it popped up the article Gene was referring to.
Tip: the page you are on is not necessarily the one that is in your browser URL address bar. It all depends on how the webmaster programmed the website.
Navigating the old "Interwebs" is getting more challenging every day! I have been using computers since 1986. But I always wondered "How do it do dat?" In 1995 I had a co-worker at Xerox named Randy. He taught himself computers by reading books, no formal training. I would ask him to explain how something worked and he would get his dry erase marker and go to the 4x8 foot board and draw me a schematic picture and explain it. 30 minutes later, he had answered my question and taught me a whole bunch more about computers and networks that I never asked. The man was brilliant and taught me stuff I never would have learned on my own. I have deep respect for anyone who knows a lot and can tell it to someone in terms they can understand.
Pat P.
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Post by Gene on Mar 31, 2016 11:38:54 GMT 9
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Post by Jim on Mar 31, 2016 12:04:29 GMT 9
Thanks everyone... Got it.....
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Post by Gene on Mar 31, 2016 13:51:37 GMT 9
good detective work Pat.P. ...
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