AIR FORCE ONE PULLS SHOPPERS IN KIDS, ADULTS CAN'T GET ENOUGH PLANE SOUVENIRS.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Capitalizing on the popularity of the new Air Force One Pavilion, the Reagan Presidential Library has opened a separate gift shop that features toys and clothes emblazoned with the presidential aircraft's name.

``When we opened, people were already Christmas shopping, especially with toys for children,'' said employee Jackie Howard, who keeps busy at the shop selling everything from an Air Force One string toy ($9.95) to crystal hand-coolers made by Steuben ($100).

The hand-coolers - originally used by 18th-century women to chill their hands if they became heated by the excitement of the evening - can also be used as paperweights or dresser accouterments.

Among the most popular items are, of course, jars of jelly beans, President Reagan's favorite snack.

``Everything here has been selling. We're doing well with everything,'' said Debbie Wright, the manager of the shop, which sits under the wing of the Boeing 707 that traveled more than 1 million miles as Air Force One.

They might be doing ``well,'' but library officials won't say how much cash is coming in to the Air Force One gift shop or the main gift shop at the entrance of the museum.

Since the pavilion opened Oct. 24, attendance at the museum has increased from about 800 a day on weekdays to around 1,150, and from about 1,500 a day Saturdays and Sundays to nearly 2,300, library officials said.

Shopping at the site had special meaning for Mike Nelson of Miami, who served aboard the jet as a radio operator while in the Air Force. He bought an Air Force One commemorative coin to remember his visit to California and his former job.

``This is reliving memories,'' he said. ``It's kind of emotional. (The jet's) career is over and my career is over. But it's good to relive old memories.''

Holiday ornaments are popular at both museum gift shops, and the museum has a special exhibit called ``Christmas Around the World'' featuring ornaments from various countries, along with a Kwanzaa tree and an exhibit consisting of menorahs given to Reagan while he was in the White House.

Emily Turner of Santa Clarita brought her 3-year-old grandson, Rick Abeyta, to the shop. He quickly latched on to a $39.95 snap-together model of the presidential plane.

``It's kind of expensive, but that's what I get for bringing him. He didn't want to come, and now he doesn't want to leave,'' Turner said. ``I don't think I'm going to get out of here without that model.''

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. For information, call [phone] or see www.reaganlibrary.com.

GIFT IDEAS

The following are some of the items on sale at the new Air Force One Pavilion gift shop at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library:

--Waterford crystal. A pair of Irish coffee mugs sells for $129, and a jar that can be filled with jelly beans is $225.

--Air Force One toy plane, $9.95.

--An Air Force One metal play set - a miniature Air Force One, a stretch limousine with working sunroof, a Secret Service van, and a helicopter with retractable rotors - $17.95.

--Radio-controlled Air Force One and a Marine One model helicopter with a Secret Service escort, $16.95 each.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color in Simi edition only) Harriet and Lon Kellenberger of Bakersfield pick out a book as a Christmas gift for their grandson at the Air Force One store in the new pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

(2 -- color in Simi edition only) Nellie Bazzell of Taft examines Air Force One merchandise at the new pavilion's store at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

(3 -- 4) Store manager Debbie Wright shows a Steuben glass hand cooler/paperweight, above, available for $100 at the Air Force One store in the pavilion at the Reagan Library. Below, those who'd like a more wearable souvenir can take home this embroidered leather jacket for $195.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) IF YOU GO (see text)

(2) GIFT IDEAS (see text)