No Right Angles
Aviation & A Complex Project…in LEGOs.
Winters are typically cold in Connecticut and games, puzzles and indoor projects abound in our home.
My son and I were a bit late in the season to choose our building project for this winter and we got to work planning the 2021 / 2022 Winter project over the Thanksgiving vacation.
Given my lifelong architecture and aviation enthusiasm, I suggested that we begin our exploration with a jet engine model, classic engine or, perhaps, tall buildings.
Something bigger. Something crazier!
These are all interesting, fun and uniquely challenging options but none was quite as challenging or unique as we had envisioned.
It seems that the LEGO MOC community has built EVERYTHING already!
I became nostalgic about the history of aviation and my upbringing on some of the greatest planes, including TWA’s “Queen of the Skies” 747. My son enjoys hearing about my travel experiences when I was his age and younger.
We talked about how the airline greats flew the “Queen of the Skies,” most notably TWA and Pan Am airlines in the booming 60s, 70s & 1980s.
Before becoming merely a commodity, flying used to be so exciting, classy and was a respectful experience. It was indescribably special.
Most of us recognized the privilege that it was to fly commercially.
In the same era of the Queen of the Skies, even the Concord passengers were in awe of the capabilities of modern aviation. It was special for most everyone on every plane.
A Quick Calculation
Flying was substantially more expensive in real dollars in the 1980s
With my old school Texas Instruments, standard issue, 1990s students’ financial calculator, I sought to understand the real impact of an economy seat that cost $700 in 1986 in 2020 dollars.
Based on an assumption of 2.5% average annual inflation over the last 30 years, a ticket in the 1980s would “feel” like $1468 in 2020 dollars.
BUT, flights to Europe, seasonally-depending, start at only $350.
The masses fly and seem to generally speak about their experience in an unpleasant light.
Yes, THAT TWA flight 800!!
My mother taught French and ran tours to Europe in the 1980s and 1990s. We flew TWA flight 800 back and forth to Europe multiple times.
I will never forget my first flight to Paris when I was seven years old.
We sat on the main level of this awe-inspiring plane.
Everyone dressed well for the flight.
1st class was up in the iconic bubble, which remained unique to the 747 throughout aviation history.
Those in 1st class had a rose and a glass of champagne on their tables. The glass was made of actual glass and the utensils throughout the aircraft were actual metal.
People smiled, almost giddy, in every section of the plane. The aisles were massive and the technology was amazing for the time.
I will never forget the moment
we went up the spiral staircase into the bubble. Straight ahead was the bathroom and to the right was 1st class. To the left was the cockpit door, wide open!
The captain and navigator saw this big-eyed 7 year old and invited us in.
My World Exploded.
The expansive sky and its brilliant colors faded into darkness as we sliced our through the air toward the night over Europe.
The brilliance of the rapidly softening colors of the sky will be forever emblazoned in my mind’s eye.
GET TO THE POINT!!!!
After all of this reflection, I rediscovered my passion for the history of aviation and I chose my project: the legendary TWA Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport, designed by World famous architect, Eero Saarinen.
This model will be built from our LEGO collection that contains millions of parts dating back to the 1980s.
I contacted the management of the modern TWA Hotel at JFK and they connected me with the architectural firm that was responsible for the renovation and preservation of the early day of commercial aviation.
The enthusiasm of the folks at the hotel and the architectural firm was palpable and speaks to the deep nostalgia of those who experienced a part of the best years of aviation.
Please excuse me but I need to get to work!
