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| What I Know About Airplanes |
by Joan Ackley
When I was a litle girl, I thought that skyscrapers were the
airpanes that made those streaks across the evening sky. I
watched as they flew along scraping the blue away and leaving a
white trail as they slowly passed by. Even after I learned about
vapor trails and tall buildings, I still liked my original idea better. I
could never see how a stationary building could scrape the sky.
We bought the "Tower Restaurant" at Wiley Post Airport in
April, 1994. We quickly changed the name to Annie Okie's
Runway Café, and began meeting some of the local pilots. I
know that there are high wings and low wings and bi-wings. I
know there are single engines and twin engines. I know the
propeller can be in back. I till can't tell a Piper from a Cessna
from a Beech, but I've learned a lot about the military World War
LL planes from the commemorative Air Force.
Using my laywoman's logic, I thought they started with the
"A's" then went to the "B's" and "C's" et cetera when they named
planes. But the real fun began when I learned that the letters
actually mean something.
"A" is for "ATTACK"
Such as the A-26 being restored right now by the CAF.
"B" is for "BOMBER"
We've been visited by several of the B-17 Bombers which go on
display across the country. When my son Derek, was 12, he had
his first airplane ride in a B-17! It's one of the perks of being at
an airport restaurant.
There is also the B-25, which dropped the atomic bombs (sic).
When I was a litle girl, I thought that skyscrapers were the
airpanes that made those streaks across the evening sky. I
watched as they flew along scraping the blue away and leaving a
white trail as they slowly passed by. Even after I learned about
vapor trails and tall buildings, I still liked my original idea better. I
could never see how a stationary building could scrape the sky.
We bought the "Tower Restaurant" at Wiley Post Airport in
April, 1994. We quickly changed the name to Annie Okie's
Runway Café, and began meeting some of the local pilots. I
know that there are high wings and low wings and bi-wings. I
know there are single engines and twin engines. I know the
propeller can be in back. I till can't tell a Piper from a Cessna
from a Beech, but I've learned a lot about the military World War
LL planes from the commemorative Air Force.
Using my laywoman's logic, I thought they started with the
"A's" then went to the "B's" and "C's" et cetera when they named
planes. But the real fun began when I learned that the letters
actually mean something.
"A" is for "ATTACK"
Such as the A-26 being restored right now by the CAF.
"B" is for "BOMBER"
We've been visited by several of the B-17 Bombers which go on
display across the country. When my son Derek, was 12, he had
his first airplane ride in a B-17! It's one of the perks of being at
an airport restaurant.
There is also the B-25, which dropped the atomic bombs (sic).
The B-1 Stealth Bomber flew over Wiley Post one year. It
looked like the Bat Mobile, and didn't make a sound.
"C" is for CARGO
Those large, slow, cargo planes come by occasionally, and are
easy to spot.
"P" is for "PURSUIT"
My favorite is the P-38 with it's split tail. One crashed at an
airshow in England a few years ago, and I heard there are only a
handful left.
Of course, we have our own famous P-51 at Wiley Post. The
"Miss America" frequently wins air races in Reno.
"T" is for "TRAINER"
We have a propeller in the restaurant of a PT-19.
It was used at a Navy training camp in Chickasha, and was in my
father's garage for 30+ years before we borrowed it for display.
The CAF has an actual working PT-19, which is an open cockpit
two seater.
"F" is for "FIGHTER"
Those new, sleek fast military jets such as the F-17 fit into this
category.
Well, that's all I know ahout airplanes. If you bring your children
in, you'll notice we give them a picture of an airplane to color.
Maybe they will learn something about flying or decide on a
career in aviation some day.
We just like to sit, and watch them take off and land. We
always pick out the ones that could take us to Vegas.
(Editor's note: If some one undertakes to explain WWII naval designations
to Joan, the TAXI-STRiP shall be held blameless.)
looked like the Bat Mobile, and didn't make a sound.
"C" is for CARGO
Those large, slow, cargo planes come by occasionally, and are
easy to spot.
"P" is for "PURSUIT"
My favorite is the P-38 with it's split tail. One crashed at an
airshow in England a few years ago, and I heard there are only a
handful left.
Of course, we have our own famous P-51 at Wiley Post. The
"Miss America" frequently wins air races in Reno.
"T" is for "TRAINER"
We have a propeller in the restaurant of a PT-19.
It was used at a Navy training camp in Chickasha, and was in my
father's garage for 30+ years before we borrowed it for display.
The CAF has an actual working PT-19, which is an open cockpit
two seater.
"F" is for "FIGHTER"
Those new, sleek fast military jets such as the F-17 fit into this
category.
Well, that's all I know ahout airplanes. If you bring your children
in, you'll notice we give them a picture of an airplane to color.
Maybe they will learn something about flying or decide on a
career in aviation some day.
We just like to sit, and watch them take off and land. We
always pick out the ones that could take us to Vegas.
(Editor's note: If some one undertakes to explain WWII naval designations
to Joan, the TAXI-STRiP shall be held blameless.)
|
Dear Editor:
I just stumbled across your web site. Needless to say, I enjoyed it very much.
Having done a site myself, I know how much work it is to put one together.
I haven't done much flying in the past few years, motly due to the cost, but the
Corben Ace bit me in the heart. I'd love to have a 300+ mph go fast machine, but
for my kind of flying and for the expense, the Ace looks like lots of fun.
Keep up the good work,
Don Ellis, OKC
I just stumbled across your web site. Needless to say, I enjoyed it very much.
Having done a site myself, I know how much work it is to put one together.
I haven't done much flying in the past few years, motly due to the cost, but the
Corben Ace bit me in the heart. I'd love to have a 300+ mph go fast machine, but
for my kind of flying and for the expense, the Ace looks like lots of fun.
Keep up the good work,
Don Ellis, OKC
| YOUR PROSE Here |
| YOUR POEM Here |
WAY TO GO!
After 10-years of watching airplanes go by, Joan
Ackley was at long last offered an airplane ride.
Many thanks to Tom Kilpatrick of Oklahoma
Aviation, for taking Joan and her son for an hour
in the air.
I apologize for not having the forethought to
have asked.
Editor
After 10-years of watching airplanes go by, Joan
Ackley was at long last offered an airplane ride.
Many thanks to Tom Kilpatrick of Oklahoma
Aviation, for taking Joan and her son for an hour
in the air.
I apologize for not having the forethought to
have asked.
Editor
| If you like to write about aviation, let us see what you can do. |
| YOUR LETTER Here |
| SNJ-5 at BVO click on thumbnail |
B-25 departing Ponca City
after 1st Sat. fly-in breakfast.
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after 1st Sat. fly-in breakfast.
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