Air Travel

Jimmy Carter exhibit at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l Airport

Air Travel, Exhibits, History, , ,

A new exhibit at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Jimmy Carter: Georgia’s Native Son,” uses mementos, photographs and artifacts to tell the story of the South Georgia peanut farmer who become the state’s 76th governor and eventually the nation’s 39th president.


Jimmy Carter: Georgia’s Native Son is displayed in the walkway connecting the main security screening area and Concourse T and will be at ATL through July 2011.  The exhibit is part of a larger exhibit at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum near downtown Atlanta.

Photos courtesy Hartsfield-Jackson Altanta International Airport

First-time trike flight

Air Travel, Airplanes, aviation, , , , , ,

For a while up there on Prosser Butte, just outside of Spokane, WA, I was hoping the sun would set before it was my turn to get strapped into the back seat of the two-seated, three-wheeled, motorized, kite-like contraption that Denny Reed insists is a perfectly legal light sport aircraft, or trike.

Spokane Backcountry Aerosports light sport aircraft

But there was plenty of light left after the four writers I’m touring Spokane with each took their turn flying low over nearby hills and wheat fields with Backcountry Aerosports owner Denny Reed as their guide.

So when it was my turn, I had no choice but to climb in, buckle up, and hold on tight.

You know how this turns out.

There was nothing whatsoever to be worried about. The sampler flight – maybe ten or fifteen minutes max –was a bit scary at take-off, but incredibly exhilarating after that.

As Reed promised, the aircraft (I’m still uncomfortable saying I flew in a trike) felt stable and safe. And when we flew down low, it was indeed possible to feel changes in air temperature.

So, I’m now a convert.  I’m not saying I’m ready to sign up for the flight training courses Reed offers and get my own Ultralight  or Light Sport Aircraft anytime soon.  But if I had the opportunity to ride along with someone again, I’m game. I might even seek it out.

And I promise: next time, no whining. In fact, next time, I’d like to fly first.

light sport aircraft trike prosse butte

Portland International Airport loves cyclists

Air Travel, Airports, Baggage, Other Resources, Recreation, , ,

Despite all the rainy days, Portland, Oregon is known as one of the most bike-friendly and bike-able cities around.

Photo of bicycle

Stenciled bike-riders with personality are everywhere  –

Book-reading bicycle stencil Portland, Oregon

And the city makes it easy to take a bike on the MAX light rail train that runs to and from Portland International Airport, where there’s bicycle parking and easy access to a bike and pedestrian path.

Now the airport has added a welcome and very useful amenity just for cyclists: a bike assembly station where travelers can easily assemble and disassemble their bikes before and after flights.

Portland Airport bicycle assembly station

(Photo courtesy Portland International Airport)

And – here’s a nice touch – Travel Oregon and the Port of Portland have basic bike tools, such as a pedal wrenches and air pumps, available for check out.

Look for the bike assembly stations at Portland International Airport on the lower terminal roadway near the TriMet MAX station.  Check out tools and find out about local cycling activities at the State Welcome Center, near bag carousels 5 and 6.

Stuck at Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)

Air Travel, Art, , ,

I spent a full day this week poking around the brand new Terminal B at Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC).  Only some of the restaurants and shops are open. And not all the artwork is installed. But what’s there is pretty impressive.

Here are two fun photos from my tour. More tomorrow.

Topiary bear greets travelers at San Jose International Airport

Topiary Bear welcomes travelers at San Jose International Airport

SJC airport may have a swanky new high-tech terminal, but this topiary bear on the entrance roadway has been greeting travelers for years.

Art work at SJC: Space observer

You must pass the Space Observer before entering security checkpoint

Now, this 26-foot tall, all white, interactive “Space Observer” sculpture by Bjorn Schulke greets travelers in Terminal B.

(Photos by Harriet Baskas)

Happy Souvenir Sunday from Des Moines International Airport

Air Travel, Airport shops, Fun Stuff, Shopping, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, ,

Each Sunday at StuckatTheAirport.com is Souvenir Sunday, when we take a look at some of the fun, inexpensive and offbeat souvenirs you can buy at airports.

This week’s souvenir comes to us from Twitter buddy, @Cassivella (Melissa Odom) who sent along a snapshot titled “Evil Corn” found for sale at Des Moines International Airport (DSM).

Corn souvenir Des Moines airport

Bundled all together like that, I can see how they can look a bit evil.

But as we learned a while back from Pam Hinman at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, the 6-inch tall Corny Cobs (yes, they have a name) are big sellers.  And when on their own these little guys look, well, just corny, not evil.

Have you found a great souvenir while Stuck at The Airport? If it’s around $10, “of” the city or region and, ideally, a bit offbeat, please take a photo and send it along. It may end up featured on a future edition of Souvenir Sunday. And if it is, I’ll mail you a souvenir from StuckatTheAirport.com.

Maggots and flying cars. Need we say more?

Air Travel, Airplanes, aviation, Aviation history, Baggage, Carry-ons, Design, Exhibits, Fun Stuff, , , ,

Besides the story about the Charlotte-bound US Airways plane that had to return to the gate in Atlanta because maggots started dropping from an overhead bin (watch video at your own risk…)

…the best aviation-related story making the rounds today was about yet another FAA-approved flying car. The Christian Science Monitor’s story about the Terrafugia Transition includes some very cool photos and a video describing the prototype of a two-seater car that can be transformed into an airplane – and purchased for $194,000.

It does seem promising but, The Jetsons aside, it’s not new. Back in 1949, Vancouver, Washington resident Moulton Taylor created a car that did the same thing.

The final version of that car, the Aerocar III, which was actually the sixth version of the car, is on display at Seattle’s Museum of Flight.

Flying car

Taylor wasn’t the first to make a flying car. The Smithsonian Institution displays the Waterman Aerobile, which first flew in 1937.

And, from 1950, the Fulton Airphibian

Both the Airphibian and the Aerobile are on display in the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport.

Tidbits for travelers: fresh art at airports in Tucson and Denver

Air Travel, Airports, Art, Exhibits, , ,

Next time you’re stuck at the airport don’t just sit there and be irritated.

Look around. It’s a fair bet you’ll find some great artwork just around the corner.

A few fresh examples:

(Terry Bustamante Idolatry)

From now through mid-August you can see work by Terry Bustamante and Jennifer Hill in an exhibit titled Exploring Other Worlds in the Upper Link Gallery at Tucson International Airport (TUS).

(Jennifer Hill: Muchacha con Mascara de Zorro)

In the Tucson airport’s Lower Link Gallery you’ll find a series of paintings  – architectural landscape interpretations – by Judith Kramer.

(Judith A Kramer: Architectural Forms Series#3)

And over at Denver International Airport (DEN) you’ll find Me Rento Para Soñar (I Rent Myself to Dream) and exhibition of paintings, engravings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics and tridimensional pieces by Mexican artist Alvaro Santiago. The work will be on display through Oct. 15 on the Mezzanine Level Gallery in A Concourse.

If you’ve got time to hang out in Denver, keep in mind that throughout July the city is hosting the 2010 Biennial of the Americas.


At German airports, bees are the canaries

Air Travel, Airports, Health, Technology, ,

Girl in bee costume. Field Museum


(Courtesy Field Museum, via Flickr Creative Commons)

According to a story by Tanya Mohn in the New York Times, Düsseldorf International Airport and seven other airports in Germany are using bees as ‘biodetectives.’  Clues about the air quality around each airport show up in the honey.

“The first batch of this year’s harvested honey from some 200,000 bees was tested in early June…and indicated that toxins were far below official limits…”

That’s good news of course, but here’s my favorite part of the story:

Beekeepers from the local neighborhood club keep the bees. The honey, “Düsseldorf Natural,” is bottled and given away as gifts.

The article describes what sort of substances the honey was tested for (“certain hydrocarbons and heavy metals”) and offers intriguing information about the pros, cons and reliability of biomonitoring – the use of living organisms to test environmental health:

Assessing environmental health using bees as “terrestrial bioindicators“ is a fairly new undertaking, said Jamie Ellis, assistant professor of entomology at the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, University of Florida in Gainesville. “We all believe it can be done, but translating the results into real-world solutions or answers may be a little premature.” Still, similar work with insects to gauge water quality has long been successful.

You can read the full article here. And you can be sure I’m busy as one of those airport bees trying to figure out how to get some of that Dusseldorf honey for Souvenir Sunday.

An airplane with a pool? Why not?

Air Travel, Airplanes, Art, Exhibits, ,

The Future of Flight Aviation Center, in Mukilteo, Washington, right next door to the Boeing airplane factory, has a charming exhibit up right now featuring innovative aircraft ideas from “kids of all ages.”

The Harry Winsor Design Your Own Aircraft Show was inspired by, and named for, the 8-year old who sent a drawing of an airplane to the Boeing Company and received a form letter in return informing him that, per company policy, they’d shredded the picture.  That snafu was resolved and one of the many good things that came from the ‘incident’ is this art show.  From now through July 31, 2010, the Future of Flight will be displaying some of Harry’s airplane pictures along with about 40 others.  Here are some samples:

The Hippy Chick Plane, by Yvette, has a spa, a yoga deck, a chill out zone and a champagne bar!

This one doesn’t have a spa, but it does have a pool:

And these two are just really cute!

Free classical concert at Orlando Airport; free terminal tour at San Jose Airport

Air Travel, Airports, Architecture, Art, Design, Entertainment, Exhibits, Power Outlets, Seating, , , , , , ,


As part of its Liberty Weekend festivities, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) will present a free concert by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will take place at 8 pm, on Saturday June 26, 2010 in the atrium of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which doubles as the public lobby area for gates 60 to 129.  All attendees will get three hours of complimentary airport parking.

Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, unticketed visitors are invited into Silicon Valley’s Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) for a sneak peek at the new high-tech Terminal B.  The new building includes seating areas with built-in power ports and public art that includes German multi-media artist’s Bjoern Schuelke’s Space Observer, an interactive, two-story tall robot-like structure with three legs and propeller-equipped arms.

San Jose Airport public art "Space Observer"

(Watch a Space Observer movie.)

Registered visitors will be able to walk through the terminal, see the art, buy a souvenir and enter drawings for prizes that will include airline tickets and travel packages.

If you plan on visiting the terminal, you’ll need to register in advance on the SJC website by Wednesday, June 23rd and pick the day and time you want to stop by.

In the meantime, here’s a link to a great photo slide show of the San Jose Airport through the years from The Mercury News.