PAINT D 690 AIR FORCE ONE USAF

Paint only
Plane not included

The factory drawing for Aero Commander serial number 55-4638 is titled “Ike’s Bird”. Built in 1955, the plane and several others were ordered by the government for a special purpose… to carry the President, Vice President and other government officials on short trips. The plane has the distinction of being the smallest aircraft ever to carry the “Air Force One” call sign.

The story goes that President Eisenhower took office and refused to use the “Independence”, Harry Truman’s airplane, as his Air Force One. Instead he ordered a Lockheed Constellation as his primary aircraft. But for short trips into and out of his farm grass strip near Gettysburg, PA, the President needed something to operate from the short and unimproved landing area. Helicopters were not yet reliable enough. Driving took too long and snarled traffic. He told his chief pilot, Col. William Draper, to conduct an evaluation. His mission was to find a plane to go back and forth to the farm, and to make other short trips. The Colonel chose one of the most popular executive transports of the day, the Aero Commander 560A, and the Air Force ordered several for the President’s use. The Air Force designated the planes the L-26. Himself a pilot, Ike often took the controls of the Aero Commander, enjoying the opportunity to fly.