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First Air Force One (Columbine II) was the presidential aircraft for Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1954. This organization is working to "restore First Air Force One to its original grandeur-as if it just came off the assembly line or better."
The story of First Air Force One and how it got its name is a remarkable one. In May 1954 Eisenhower was flying into Richmond as "Air Force 8610." At the same time "Eastern Airlines 8610" also checked in. If both planes had been given permission to land on the same runway at the same time, they could have easily crashed into each other-ending the life of America's President in an aviation disaster like no other. Thankfully that did not happen. But not willing to take any chances the Air Force, Secret Service and Presidential Staff came up with a brilliant idea: change the call sign of any Presidential flight to Air Force One.
For many years after Eisenhower's presidency ended the plane actually vanished. For years the Smithsonian called it the "Lost Air Force One." Later it was found but it was in ruins. This is where a foundation called First Air Force one saved and began the long process of restoring this one of a kind piece of history.
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