See inside Dwight D. Eisenhower's Air Force One, the only plane of its kind ever built

Columbine III at the National Museum of the US Air Force.US Air Force Photo by Ken LaRockPresident Dwight Eisenhower flew on Columbine III, a Lockheed VC-121E, for most of his presidency.The plane was named after the state flower of Colorado, his wife Mamie Eisenhower's home state.It featured multiple seating areas, a presidential stateroom, and a spacious bathroom.Columbine III, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Air Force One plane, remains the only aircraft of its kind ever built.The Lockheed VC-121E was a militarized version of a commercial Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, nicknamed "Super Connies" for their powerful engines and large fuel capacities.Columbine III was also the first plane to carry the Air Force One designation from the beginning of its service.Now on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, Eisenhower's Air Force One is open for members of the public to board and walk through.I visited the museum in August to take a look inside the "Super Connie" that Eisenhower flew around the world. Follow along on my tour.President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew on Columbine III from 1954 until 1961, when his second term ended.American President Dwight D Eisenhower (1890 - 1969) steps off his airplane Columbine III as he arrives at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center for its formal dedication, Huntsville, Alabama, September 1960. The Columbine III was a Lockheed VC-121E based off the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft and served as the presidents official aircraft.MSFC-NASA/Interim Archives/Getty ImagesEisenhower named Columbine III after the state flower of Colorado in honor of his wife, Mamie Eisenhower, who was raised there.The first lady christened the plane in 1954 with spring water from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado instead of the traditional Champagne.The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, acquired Eisenhower's plane in 1966.Columbine III.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderAfter Columbine III retired from service as Air Force One, it spent a few years serving as an Air Force transport for VIPs. The aircraft was then flown to Dayton to join the museum's collection in 1966.It is now one of several historic Air Force One planes on display in the William E. Boeing Presidential Gallery.The cockpit featured seats for the pilot, copilot, and flight engineer.The cockpit.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe flight crew also included a navigator who plotted the aircraft's course and tracked its location before GPS existed.The radio operator worked out of this room behind the cockpit.The radio room.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe radio operator was in charge of communicating with Air Traffic Control. The president could also send and receive teletype messages during flight.The first seating area featured two tables, each with six chairs, for crew members.A seating area.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe seating area was furnished with fans, lights, and curtains on the windows.The galley included a toaster, stovetop, oven, and urns for hot water and ice water.The galley.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderFlight attendants prepared meals for the crew and VIP passengers in the small kitchen.Storage areas separated the crew from Eisenhower's presidential workspace.Inside Columbine III.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe hallway featured space to store luggage and oxygen masks.This seating area was used by members of Eisenhower's staff.Seating on Columbine III.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderOne of Columbine III's most famous flights was in 1955, when Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles flew to Switzerland for the Geneva Summit between the leaders of the US, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, known as the "Big Four."Eisenhower's presidential stateroom was located toward the back of the plane.Dwight D. Eisenhower's seating area on Columbine III.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderTwo rotary phones were located next to the president's desk.The museum displayed the actual 16-millimeter film projector that Eisenhower used on board the plane.A projector.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe projector was transferred from Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC, so it was likely used for military planning purposes rather than movie nights.The stateroom also featured two couches that could fold down into beds.A fold-out couch and bed on Columbine III.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe plane could hold a total of eight crew members and 24 passengers.The most luxurious part of the plane was the president's spacious lavatory.The president's lavatory.Talia Lakritz/Business InsiderThe bathroom was much larger than the lavatories on previous Air Force One planes, with the toilet and sink vanity in separate spaces.As the only aircraft of its kind ever built, Columbine III remains an important artifact from the early years of Air Force One planes.Columbine III at the National Museum of the US Air Force.US Air Force Photo by Ken LaRockColumbine III featured four Wright R-3350 engines with 3,400 horsepower each and a larger fuel capacity than earlier Air Force One planes, allowing it to travel at a higher speed of 330 miles per hour.Modern VC-25 Air Force One jets fly at 630 miles per hour, nearly the speed of sound.Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

UK pharmaceutical sector ‘risks losing investment to other countries’

Evening Standard

Comments

Similar News

An eighties icon resurrected: Ferrari's new 849 Testarossa sees the return of one of the most famous supercar names of all time

Alphabet's Verily plans to restructure ahead of fresh investment, and as employees see their shares tank

Trump Warns of Doom if Tariffs Are Ruled Illegal. Others See a Tax Cut.

Proposed $70B Teck, Anglo American merger would see mining giant HQ in Vancouver

Citi poaches IBM exec to accelerate its AI ambitions: See the memo

See inside Harry Truman's historic Air Force One plane featuring a stateroom and a cartoon eagle paint job

National Express owner sees shares hit the skids after earnings fall

National Express owner sees shares hit the skids after earnings fall

Rising costs take shine off Beaverbrooks: Family-owned jeweller sees sales and profits slide

McDonald's workers won't see a benefit from the 'no tax on tips' portion of the 'Big Beautiful Bill'

'Fabulous' Bosch kettle that boils 'quickly' sees 14% price drop on Amazon

Morrisons cutting price of 650 items from today - see list of examples

'I tried the new Laura Mercier setting spray to see if it makes makeup last longer'

Martin Lewis says 'check this payslip code' to see if you're owed thousands

The U.S. could tumble into recession before seeing Trump’s promised golden age

Sam Altman Is Starting To See The Dead Internet Theory

The US has more job seekers than open jobs. These 10 states are seeing the biggest increases in unemployment claims.

Northern Lights Forecast: 15 States Might See Aurora Borealis Tonight Amid Geomagnetic Storms

I've worked at Costco for 20 years. Here are 8 of the best things I'm seeing on shelves right now.

National Lottery operator sees sales boosted by record EuroMillions draws

Business News

UK pharmaceutical sector ‘risks losing investment to other countries’

UK pharmaceutical sector ‘risks losing investment to other countries’

Labor Department watchdog to audit jobs and inflation reports from embattled BLS

Trump's deportation plans result in 320,000 fewer immigrants and slower population growth, CBO says

Direct-To-Consumer Fragrance Brands Reshaping The Retail Playbook

Polly Holliday, ‘Alice’ And ‘Flo’ Star Who Made ‘Kiss My Grits!’ A Pop Culture Catchphrase, Dies At 88

Charlie Kirk Dead After Shooting At Utah College Event, Trump Says (Live Updates)

Rock Legend John Fogerty Honored With BMI Troubadour Award

“Remote Work” In Court Comes Face-To-Face With The Constitution

Gold surges near record high as investors bet on Fed rate cut

Bari Weiss closes in on top job at CBS News — but staff fear it would be like ‘dropping a grenade’: sources

Black server at Cracker Barrel was called ‘burnt biscuit,’ racist slurs, then fired after making HR complaint: lawsuit

Crocs, Hollister drop singer D4vd after rotting corpse found inside his Tesla

Amazon developing consumer AR glasses with microphones, speakers and camera to rival Meta: report

‘Three’s Company’ Reading: Come And Knock On Their Door

Kakao Corp Stock Gets Slight Bump After IU’s Surprise Single Release

Jamie Anderson Returns To Snowboarding, Eyes 2026 Winter Olympics

Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot At Utah College Event (Live Updates)

China, Russia And The Global Natural Gas Market – Big Changes Now Likely

I’m Officially Worried About ‘Only Murders In The Building’ Season 5 After That Terrible Flashback Episode

Kash Patel Acknowledged Firing FBI Officials For Trump Was Unlawful—But Did It Anyway, Lawsuit Claims

Manufacturers Won’t Go Taylor-Travis Viral, But Here’s How They Can Win On Social Media

Here’s What Explains The Big Jobs Revision

Prince Harry Meets With King Charles For First Time In 19 Months

U.S. Lawmakers Demand Trump Respond To Russia: Trump Posts Cryptic ‘Here We Go!’ After Poland Downs Drones

What Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book tells us about his Wall Street origins

Conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk shot at Utah event

What is Elon Musk's net worth? Find out the wealth of the Tesla, SpaceX CEO

See inside Dwight D. Eisenhower's Air Force One, the only plane of its kind ever built

Larry Ellison's $100 billion day reminds us why David Ellison could buy Paramount

I dined at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen restaurant and tried his $72 beef Wellington. I finally get the hype.

Palmer Luckey test-drives first $128,000 Jetson One electric aircraft

Klarna hits $19bn value in Wall Street debut

Trump Threatens to Sue The New York Times Over Reporting on Epstein Drawing

Labor Department watchdog reviewing challenges to BLS data collection

AI Tools Are Spreading Medical Scams Online

World-Changing AI Is Raising US Electricity Bills

Stevie Nicks Hits No. 1 In America With Her Long-Overlooked Song

Bealls Partners With Profitmind To Improve Merchandise Planning Accuracy

NATO Must Draw A Red Line After Russian Drones Over Poland

What Time Is ‘Beauty In Black’ Season 2 Part 1 Coming Out On Netflix?

Fans Fight For Free Baseballs As Baseball Memorabilia Prices Rise

Liam Neeson’s ‘The Naked Gun’ Gets Paramount+ Streaming Date, Report Says

Queen’s Career-Defining Hit Becomes A Bestseller Again After A Viral Moment

Why The Green Bay Packers’ Commitment To Christian Watson Likely Means Romeo Doubs Won’t Be Resigned

Prince Harry Seen Arriving At King Charles’ London Residence—Could Be First Meeting In 19 Months

Noah Schnapp Talks ‘Stranger Things’ And Being An Entrepreneur Today

Former FBI Officials Allege Trump Ordered Kash Patel To Fire Them In New Lawsuit

NEW POLL: Democratic Socialist Mamdani Has 'Commanding Lead' In NYC Mayoral Race

Bolivia Defeats Brazil To Qualify For FIFA 2026 World Cup Playoff

Klarna Opens Up 30% In First Of Three Fintech IPOs Expected This Week

Curve investors embroiled in row over &#163;120m Lloyds sale proceeds

Eighties icon resurrected: Ferrari Testarossa returns

Top OpenAI exec dishes at a Goldman Sachs conference. Here are all the numbers.

Netflix is teaming up with Amazon, and it's dragging down adtech rival The Trade Desk's stock

5 details you might've missed during Apple's iPhone event

Porter Airlines pilots give notice to begin collective bargaining

Curve investors embroiled in row over £120m Lloyds sale proceeds