Columbine II Video

[connieman]

Interesting video released on YouTube yesterday regarding the current situation of VC-121A 48-610 Columbine II. This aircraft was Dwight Eisenhower's first presidential aircraft and has been stored at Marana Regional Airport (formally Avra Valley Airport) since May 2003.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehwvZXVKmPU

Ralph - that is a great video! Thanks for sharing.

Hope this great airplane can be preserved and flown to an appropriate museum.

[pjpahs]

Video was published on June 2, 2014 but doesn't indicate when it was "filmed". Interesting that in the background at the 3:50 minute mark was a couple of Beech Starships, really cool, I'll take one. The climate must be really gentle on the Connie for the engine to be fired up. If a Connie gets to the airshow circuit and offers flight experiences, I'll be one of the first in line.

[CAPFlyer]

From Ralph Peterson -

"Mel Christler’s grandson Tim Crowley is leading an effort to restore Dwight Eisenhower’s Columbine II presidential aircraft. Mel Christler and Harry Oliver saved the aircraft from certain extinction back in 1990 when they restored her to flying condition and flew her to a number of events in 1990/1991. The aircraft has been stored at Avra Valley near Tucson since May 2003 and a video has been produced and was posted yesterday on YouTube."

Additionally, on Ralph's site, it states the documentary was produced in 2013 - http://www.conniesurvivors.com/1-connie_news.htm#MAY18

[Brenden S]

Nice video.

[Lynn Allen]

Great story and aircraft. Its on my bucket list to fly along with one of those Starships in the background...