Aircraft (Left Behind)
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This is a catalog of fictional aircraft in the Left Behind series of novels.
[edit] Condor 216
The Condor 216, in the fictional Left Behind book series, is an aircraft personally designed by Global Community Supreme Potentate, His Excellency (Antichrist) Nicolae Carpathia. This aircraft was originally built as the successor to Global Community One, a Boeing 757 which was previously built to be the new Air Force One for President Gerald Fitzhugh of the United States of America. After GC One was destroyed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City at the outbreak of World War III, the Condor 216 was put into service as the new GC One. Captain Rayford Steele and First Officer Mac McCullum were her maiden flight crew.
The 216 was built so that a captain who was certified to fly a Boeing 757 could fly her; however, the 216 is roughly twice the size of a 757. It is a technical marvel built under the supervision of Earl Halliday, Steele's former boss at Pan-Con International. Halliday installed a listening device for the captain so that he could listen into everything happening in the cabin through his headphones.
The Condor uses the number '216', which is Carpathia's office suite number, later the region code for the United Holy Land States (renamed the United Carpathian States), and the Number of the Beast in disguise: 6 x 6 x 6.
The 216 was stored in the GC's underground shelter during the Wrath of the Lamb worldwide earthquake. It was then headquartered at the GC Palace complex, New Babylon, United Holy Land States.
After Steele fled from the GC, McCullum was promoted to Captain. He then hired fellow believer Abdullah Smith as First Officer.
The 216 is destroyed in Johannesburg, South Africa, after an attack by the United African States sub-potentate, Bindura Rehoboth, who was seeking to assassinate Carpathia and take control of the Global Community with the head of Enigma Babylon One World Faith, Pontifex Maximus Peter Mathews. The attack fails; however, Mathews sends his own aircraft, II One, to ferry the wounded flight crew to New Babylon, where they are awarded the GC's highest medal for valor, the Golden Circle. Carpathia tells the world, much like he did with President Fitzhugh and Air Force One, that Mathews offered II One to the GC as a gift. Carpathia then has II One repainted, names it Phoenix 216 and puts it into service as the new GC One.
[edit] Phoenix 216
Phoenix 216 is a fictional aircraft in the Left Behind series of novels.
The aircraft, much more luxurious than Condor 216, was previously designed for use by Pontifex Maximus Peter Mathews of Enigma Babylon One World Faith. Mathews had named the craft II One
After the Condor 216 was destroyed in Johannesburg, South Africa, United African States, Mathews sent II One to ferry the flight crew of the 216 to New Babylon. However, Global Community Potenate Nicolae Carpathia told the world that Mathews had given II One to the Global Community as a gift. It was then repainted and renamed the Phoenix 216.
David Hassid, along with Annie Christopher, and the cockpit crew of Mac McCullum and Abdullah Smith, then bugged the Phoenix in the same way the Condor had been bugged, but even more clearly and so it could be heard by both the captain and first officer.
The Phoenix 216 served as the Global Community's flagship until Christ's Glorious Appearing.
[edit] Global Community One
Global Community One is the name of the aircraft, in the fictional Left Behind novel series, that is normally used to conduct GC Supreme Potentate Nicolae Carpathia, or those doing business on his behalf, around the world by air.
The first aircraft for this purpose was a Boeing 757 bought by the United States government to become the new Air Force One. It was just ready for service when the Rapture happens. In the giddy goodwill that surrounds Carpathia, newly-chosen secretary-general of the United Nations, United States President Gerald Fitzhugh offers the loan of the 757 for Carpathia to fly to Israel for the treaty signing. As soon as it is in New York, Carpathia has it repainted as Global Community One, even though the U.N. is not yet known by the name Global Community. Carpathia gives a speech thanking the president for "giving" the craft to the U.N.; Carpathia's high popularity corners the US president into giving up the craft.
This 757 served for about two years until the outbreak of World War III. It was in New York when bombing began, and is presumed destroyed. Another craft, designed by Earl Halliday (former chief pilot for Pan-Continental Airways), immediately replaces it, and it is known as a Condor.
The Condor 216, as the GC names it, is in service, safeguarded from the Wrath of the Lamb earthquake, until it is damaged by rebel fire near Johannesburg, United States of Africa. During its service, the pilot (first Rayford Steele, then Mac McCullum) is able to listen into the main cabin area to hear what Carpathia or his aides are saying.
To replace the Condor 216, Carpathia appropriates the aircraft of Pontifex Maximus Peter Mathews, the leader of Enigma Babylon One World Faith, a craft which is even larger and more luxurious than the 757 and the Condor 216. Carpathia dubs it the Phoenix 216. Mathews is soon no longer in need of a replacement, as he soon meets his demise. David Hassid, McCullum and Abdullah Smith rig the Phoenix 216 to provide the same eavesdropping equipment.
The Phoenix 216 remains in service for many more years through the second half of the Tribulation, but is presumed destroyed just before Armageddon.
