The first Air Force One is wasting away in the Arizona desert. Shouldn't this piece of American history have been preserved?

2015-05-01T15:17:20-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/01/politics/first-air-force-one-columbine-arizona-desert/index.html

The first Air Force One is wasting away in the desert - CNNPolitics.com

In December 1953, an airplane named the "Columbine II" was on a flight over New York City, identified by air traffic controllers simply as "Air Force 8610."

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 1 at 2015 3:23 PM

2015-05-01T15:23:56-04:00

I'm surprised they didn't pick up on this when they opened the expansion to the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. Nice article!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-05-01T16:27:28-04:00

Absolutely it should be preserved! This is history. & not just "one more piece to put in the Smithsonian". This was a true first. It is a heritage piece.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 1 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-05-01T16:42:56-04:00

Is there an Air Force base near its current resting spot? I'm sure they would be willing to give it a temporary resting place. I'm willing to bet that would be hell of a "pet project" for restoration as well.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 2 at 2015 10:13 AM

2015-05-02T10:13:35-04:00

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, I agree that it should be saved and restored. The U.S. government finds monies for some of the most absurd and obscure projects, so it seems like the government could step up and take care of this extraordinary piece of history also.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 2 at 2015 10:16 AM

2015-05-02T10:16:22-04:00

The "Conni" was one of the best looking aircraft ever built!
And don't worry. Airframes last forever in the Az desert.

Response by Lt Col Eric Davis made May 3 at 2015 12:44 AM

2015-05-03T00:44:05-04:00

Unbelievable that it's just broiling in Arizona. If it was a some stupid endangered Arizona grasshopper or something, they'd find a way to spend a bazillion dollars on saving it, and we can't spend the money to save this?

We truly live in Bizzaro World.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made May 9 at 2015 8:21 AM

2015-05-09T08:21:32-04:00

I didn't know about this. I hope some of the many presidential memorabilia organizations get together and pull this beauty into a hangar for a complete refurb!

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 11 at 2015 2:08 PM

2015-08-11T14:08:04-04:00

Let's get this discussion rolling again. It appears to have slipped through the cracks garnering only 5 likes since May 2015. I remember watching President Eisenhower on B&W TV as he arrived at some event early in the 1950s and remarked to my father at the precision of that the pilot exhibited as he taxied to the terminal with the nose wheel never leaving the lines on the taxiway. I supposed that may not be remarkable, but I was impressed since I didn't know better. It is a beautiful airplane and deserves restoration and display as much as any.

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Aug 11 at 2015 5:23 PM

2015-08-11T17:23:53-04:00

I flew the same type Aircraft. Me and my family also flew back from Japan on a plane like that. I believe it was TWA owned by Howard Hughes. It was ahead of it's time.