Silvered Wings: Aero Commander L-26/U-4B 55-4647

Aero Commander L-26/U-4B 55-4647/N5379G

President Dwight D. Eisenhower used 55-4647 from 1956-1961. As a pilot himself, Eisenhower would often take the controls during trips between Washington, D.C., and his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

The smallest Air Force One and the first with only two engines, the U-4B was also the first presidential aircraft to carry the now-familiar blue-and-white paint scheme.

After Eisenhower left office the aircraft transported high-ranking government officials, including the secretary of defense and the secretary of the Air Force. In October 1969 it was transferred to the Air Force Academy’s skydiving team and was used as a jump plane for parachute training. 

In November 1977 it was transferred to Civil Air Patrol and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration as N5379G. It’s shown here in a new CAP paint scheme designed by Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul E. Gardner, CAP-USAF commander.

In 1981, because of high operating costs, the aircraft was sold to J.W. Duff Aircraft Co. of Denver  to be parted out in the company’s extensive boneyard.

Later obtained by the National Museum of the Air Force, N5379G was restored to original Air Force One livery and placed on display in July 1996.

The newly published Spring 2024 issue of Civil Air Patrol Volunteer features a detailed examination of the aircraft’s history by Col. Frank Blazich Jr., CAP national historian emeritus.

Maj. Ron Finger is a freelance illustrator and member of the Minnesota Wing’s Crow Wing Composite Squadron. Recently honored by the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame as Artist of the Year, he is an Air Force Art Program artist, where a select pool of artists are assigned “art missions” to document specific U.S. Air Force operations. 

Among his duties as Civil Air Patrol’s national artist, Finger researches and creates art that portrays our historical emergency service. A personal goal is to complete paintings documenting every aircraft type CAP has flown. 

This is the 17th painting in Finger’s second series of depictions of vintage CAP aircraft, a project he provides an in-depth look at in the Spring 2024 Civil Air Patrol Volunteer. More of Finger’s CAP artwork can be seen at redpine.net.

Silvered Wings No. 1 — Fleetwings Sea Bird F-401Silvered Wings No. 2 — Curtiss-Wright 15-D SedanSilvered Wings No. 3 — Rearwin Sportster 7000Silvered Wings No. 4 — Cessna U-3B “Blue Canoe”Silvered Wings No. 5 — Aeronca C-3 (1932)Silvered Wings No. 6 — Rearwin Sportster 900-LSilvered Wings No. 7 —Travel Air C-4000Silvered Wings No. 8 — Kinner “Sportster B”Silvered Wings No. 9 — Boeing Model 40-A/BSilvered Wings No. 10 — Brunner-Winkle “Bird,” BK (1929)Silvered Wings No. 11 —Meyers OTW-125 “Out-To-Win”Silvered Wings No. 12 — Cessna 0-1/L-19 Bird DogSilvered Wings No. 13 —Monocoupe 90A Silvered Wings No. 14 — Silvered Wings: North American/Ryan L-17A NavionSilvered Wings No. 15 — Aeronca LBSilvered Wings No. 16 — Helio U-10D/HT-295 Super Courier