Two planes were built for the White House fleet-one for the president (SN 55-4647) and one for the transport of the secret service.

It was too short for heavy transports, however, so a search was made for a plane that the government deemed safe for transporting the president and his family on weekend trips and vacations to and from the farm.Ī specialized U-4B (L-26C Aero Commander 680 Super) was ordered for this purpose. “Ike” had a private grassy airstrip on his farm, which was 70 miles away from Washington, D.C.

to his farm in Gettysburg, Penn., on a stretcher, and spent time recovering there. Shortly after Eisenhower suffered a heart attack in the mid-1950s, he was transported from Washington D.C. He chose a Lockheed Constellation, and would, during his administration, utilize three of these, which were named the Columbine I, II and III. Eisenhower took office in 1952, he rejected using Truman’s “Independence” as his presidential airplane. Rick Broome has painted hundreds of makes and models of aircraft, including the former “Air Force One” Aero Commander L-26C flown by President Eisenhower.

Air force one commander