Aircraft Photo of 53-7885 | Lockheed VC-121E Super Constellation | USA - Air Force | AirHistory.net #804848
Aircraft
Registration / Serial:53-7885
Aircraft Original Type:Lockheed 49 Constellation
Aircraft Generic Type:Lockheed Constellation / Starliner (C-69/C-121)
Aircraft Version:Lockheed VC-121E Super Constellation
C/n (msn):1049B-4151
Operator Titles:USA - Air Force
Aircraft Name:Columbine III
Location
City / Airport:Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Patterson AFBMap
Region / Country:Ohio, United States
Airport Codes:ICAO: KFFO   IATA: FFO   Local: FFO   Other: -
Collection:National Museum of the United States Air Force
 
Photo Date:22 November 2022
Photo by:Arjun Sarup
Photo ID: 804848
Photo Comment

"Columbine III" on display in the Presidential Gallery at NMUSAF. This was the third Connie to carry the name of the state flower of Colorado, where the First Lady grew up. Gen. Eisenhower used VC-121A 48-614 "Columbine" as CO of SHAPE. He briefly used VC-121A 48-610 "Columbine II" as President. This VC-121E was started as a USN R7V-1. It was modified during production, square windows replacing the portholes. The plush Super Connie featured a teletype, TV and a telephone link. It was President Eisenhower's aircraft from 1954 till 1961 and the last primary piston-engined Air Force One.

This photo is copyright © Arjun Sarup, and may not be used or published in any way without permission.

It was added on 3 May 2025, and has since been viewed 110 times.


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