VC-121A N9463/48-610 at Northwest Marana Regional (Avra Valley Airport) is named 'Columbine II' and was apparently the first aircraft to be designated as 'Air Force One' when it flew for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952-1954. Layed up here since May 2003, after last flying regularly in 1990-1991, with subsequent failed attempts to be sold, it was purchased by Dynamic Aviation (think US Army Beech 90's and Dash 8's etc) in May of this year. Thankfully, Dynamic's owners (being aircraft enthusiasts, they also have a Dakota) saved this pretty important aircraft from a uncertain future, and are now well advanced in its restoration to flight. Visited last month, they have plans to engine run soon with a possible ferry flight to their headquaters in Bridgewater, Virginia around April. There, a new hangar is being built, where the Connie will be fully restored, with plans to later display the aircraft on the airshow circuit...
As well as this, Dynamic have also just acquired the other Connie there, C-121G N105CF (the former 54-4062). This had been purchased by the Swiss Connie group (SCFA) in 2000, before being used for parts, with the airframe then sold on to HARS in 2010. Plans to move the aircraft to Australia for restoration and static display were then abandoned, with Dynamic now picking over any remaining useful parts. Despite all that, she still looks in reasonable nick...
Around 230 miles to the North of Avra Valley is the Planes of Fame Museum annex at Valle Airport, where another Connie is being prepared for imminent flight. VC-121A N422NA/48-613 named 'Bataan' was the personal aircraft of General MacArthur from 1950-1951 during the Korean War, and as the reg suggests, was later used by NASA at the Goddard Space Center, MD from 1966-1969, who stripped out the VIP interior and installed instrumentation for use on the Apollo space program. Later arriving at Valle in 1995, the 50's era VIP interior was then restored for display. Also visited last month, the number 3 engine was about to be fitted as the aircraft neared its restoration to flight, after being sold to Lewis Air Legends of San Antonio in April. After being flown to the main PoF facility at Chino, the Connie will be a 'restoration exhibition' there, before going on to her new owner, who also plan to display the aircraft on the airshow circuit...
An arty-farty shot to finish. Connies Forever!...
Cheers, Kevin
