Aviation History - July 2016

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celebration at Marana

Regional Airport in

Arizona on March 18,

President Dwight D.

Eisenhower’s presi-

dential aircraft, Colum bine

II, winged its way to a new

home on the East Coast and

a complete restoration. The

new owners of the Lockheed

VC-121, Dynamic Aviation

of Bridgewater, Va., acquired

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nated Air Force One more

than a year ago. Chairman

of Dynamic Aviation Karl

Stoltzfus said plans call for

the airplane to undergo a

“complete restoration to the

period when the president

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tion history.” An important

part of the restoration will

include the installation of the

original galley that was found

in Casper, Wyo., when word

spread of Dynamic’s acquisi-

tion of Columbine II.

Michael Stoltzfus, Dy-

namic’s president, told the

crowd of well-wishers that

it is important to remember

what this aircraft means.

“This is the plane that took

the president to the peace

talks in Korea,” he said.

“This aircraft had on board

Queen Elizabeth and the

Shah of Iran.”

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was President Eisenhower’s

granddaughter, Mary Jean

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ing with her grandfather and

talking with crew members

and Secret Service agents.

Walking through the partially

restored cabin, Eisenhower

said: “This is like a time

warp. I’m so very happy that

it is going to be restored.”

After Dynamic Aviation

bought the aircraft, they

sent a team of mechanics to

Arizona to begin repairs and

prepare it for the trip east. It

celebrated Connie

Columbine II (above) heads

to Virginia for restoration.

Dwight D. Eisenhower’s

granddaughter, Mary Jean

Eisenhower (inset), attended

the sendoff in Arizona.

briefing

First Air Force One