Lockheed VC-121E Constellation "Columbine III"
The success of the stretched Lockheed L-1049 Constellation in the early 1950s led the US military to consider purchasing a few examples--the USAF had bought L-749s in the late 1940s as the C-121A passenger transport, while the US Navy operated two as WV-1 airborne early warning aircraft. With this in mind, the US Navy placed an order for R7V-1 transports and WV-2 AEW platforms in 1950.
The R7V-1s were intended for quick conversion between passenger transports, cargo transports, or medical evacuation aircraft--what later airliners would call "Combi" aircraft. The conversion between the three variants could be accomplished in little more than two hours. The USAF was impressed with the Navy variant, and ordered 33 nearly identical versions as the C-121C; the only difference was the use of square windows rather than round ones, and the addition of an APU for austere airfield operations.
Other than chronic engine fires (which were a problem on both military and civilian Constellations), the C-121 fleet were reliable, long-range transports for their day. The narrow fuselage and high ground clearance meant that their usefulness as cargo aircraft was somewhat limited, and most were flown simply as passenger aircraft. A number were converted to other roles, such as radio relay, testbed and scientific research aircraft; the Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic team would use a R7V-1/C-121J as a support aircraft throughout the 1960s.
By 1970, the military Constellation fleet was obsolete, and the type was retired, though a few C-121Cs persisted in Air National Guard service as unit "hacks" until 1973. A few stored aircraft were returned to service with Central and South American third-tier "bush" airlines into the 1990s. Several remain in museums today, and two are flyable.
"Columbine III" was originally ordered as a R7V-1 for the US Navy, but was diverted to the USAF instead and completed as 53-7885, the only VC-121E for President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower had adopted a C-121A Constellation after he became President in 1953 to replace Harry Truman's C-54, but the C-121A was a bit cramped. The USAF decided to replace the C-121A with the VC-121E to give the President more working space, along with greater range. Eisenhower named both his Presidential aircraft "Columbine" to honor his wife Mamie: Mamie Eisenhower had grown up in Colorado, and the columbine is Colorado's state flower. When the aircraft was delivered in May 1954, Mamie christened the aircraft with Colorado spring water rather than champagne.
"Columbine III" served as Eisenhower's Presidential aircraft from 1954 to 1961, when he left office. John Kennedy, his successor, wanted a more modern jet aircraft, and so the VC-121E was dropped in favor of a VC-137B, the military version of the Boeing 707. "Columbine" remained in service until 1966, and was retired as the USAF began to draw down its Constellation fleet. It was donated to the National Museum of the USAF and made its final flight to Wright-Patterson AFB in April 1966.
Today the aircraft has been fully restored to its appearance when Eisenhower used it. As a Presidential aircraft, it was always polished to a very high sheen--which also improved its range due to less drag. Red, white and blue ends were added to the propellers rather than the normal yellow ones. Though not the best view of "Columbine III," due to the rather crowded Presidential Aircraft Gallery at the NMUSAF (and a lot of visitors on Armed Forces Day weekend), this shot gives an idea of the beauty of the Constellation series and just how high they sat above the ground. The interior is remarkably cramped; I can understand why Kennedy wanted to switch to a wider aircraft.
Lockheed VC-121E Constellation "Columbine III"
The success of the stretched Lockheed L-1049 Constellation in the early 1950s led the US military to consider purchasing a few examples--the USAF had bought L-749s in the late 1940s as the C-121A passenger transport, while the US Navy operated two as WV-1 airborne early warning aircraft. With this in mind, the US Navy placed an order for R7V-1 transports and WV-2 AEW platforms in 1950.
The R7V-1s were intended for quick conversion between passenger transports, cargo transports, or medical evacuation aircraft--what later airliners would call "Combi" aircraft. The conversion between the three variants could be accomplished in little more than two hours. The USAF was impressed with the Navy variant, and ordered 33 nearly identical versions as the C-121C; the only difference was the use of square windows rather than round ones, and the addition of an APU for austere airfield operations.
Other than chronic engine fires (which were a problem on both military and civilian Constellations), the C-121 fleet were reliable, long-range transports for their day. The narrow fuselage and high ground clearance meant that their usefulness as cargo aircraft was somewhat limited, and most were flown simply as passenger aircraft. A number were converted to other roles, such as radio relay, testbed and scientific research aircraft; the Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic team would use a R7V-1/C-121J as a support aircraft throughout the 1960s.
By 1970, the military Constellation fleet was obsolete, and the type was retired, though a few C-121Cs persisted in Air National Guard service as unit "hacks" until 1973. A few stored aircraft were returned to service with Central and South American third-tier "bush" airlines into the 1990s. Several remain in museums today, and two are flyable.
"Columbine III" was originally ordered as a R7V-1 for the US Navy, but was diverted to the USAF instead and completed as 53-7885, the only VC-121E for President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower had adopted a C-121A Constellation after he became President in 1953 to replace Harry Truman's C-54, but the C-121A was a bit cramped. The USAF decided to replace the C-121A with the VC-121E to give the President more working space, along with greater range. Eisenhower named both his Presidential aircraft "Columbine" to honor his wife Mamie: Mamie Eisenhower had grown up in Colorado, and the columbine is Colorado's state flower. When the aircraft was delivered in May 1954, Mamie christened the aircraft with Colorado spring water rather than champagne.
"Columbine III" served as Eisenhower's Presidential aircraft from 1954 to 1961, when he left office. John Kennedy, his successor, wanted a more modern jet aircraft, and so the VC-121E was dropped in favor of a VC-137B, the military version of the Boeing 707. "Columbine" remained in service until 1966, and was retired as the USAF began to draw down its Constellation fleet. It was donated to the National Museum of the USAF and made its final flight to Wright-Patterson AFB in April 1966.
Today the aircraft has been fully restored to its appearance when Eisenhower used it. As a Presidential aircraft, it was always polished to a very high sheen--which also improved its range due to less drag. Red, white and blue ends were added to the propellers rather than the normal yellow ones. Though not the best view of "Columbine III," due to the rather crowded Presidential Aircraft Gallery at the NMUSAF (and a lot of visitors on Armed Forces Day weekend), this shot gives an idea of the beauty of the Constellation series and just how high they sat above the ground. The interior is remarkably cramped; I can understand why Kennedy wanted to switch to a wider aircraft.