Cleared for Departure

The TWA Hotel

Welcome to the 1960s. It’s like you never left. 

We begin our trip at the TWA Hotel, which is actually owned by a faceless corporation (MCR Hotels) that has rights to operate on the site for seventy-five years. This was bestowed upon them by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority is not known for its above-board dealings, fiscal responsibility, or ethical behavior. For those who don’t know, they “operate” all the airports, train stations, bridges, tunnels, and bus terminals within a 50 mile radius of The Statue of Liberty. As far as I can tell, they are essentially a government sanctioned, organized criminal organization. All of which is to say we will never know how much (or who) MCR paid to get the gig, but I bet it stung.

One of two tubes which led to the gates and “jet bridges,” which were a new way at the time to board aircraft, without using stairs.

Howard Hughes ran Trans World Airlines and commissioned Finnish-American Architect Eero Saarinen to build him a sophisticated terminal for his sophisticated airline. You’ve seen Saarinen’s work. He built the iconic main terminal at Dulles Airport, with its wing-like roof, The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and the MIT Chapel in Cambridge. His firm has designed buildings around the world. 

This is Connie, who is now a cocktail lounge. A Lockheed Constellation, this airplane type broke speed records flying cross-country.  Jets, however, with their larger capacity and cheaper operating costs, doomed turbo-props. At one point this airplane was dropping marijuana in Columbia in the 80s.  Quite an interesting history. 

Saarinen’s Terminal 5 was largely demolished, and only the head house remained because it was designated a New York Historical Landmark. The new Terminal 5 (the hip kids call it T5) was built by JetBlue in 2008. The Flight Center functioned as a head house till 2001, falling out of use when TWA evaporated. 

The actual hotel part is new but built to match the feel of the decade. 

There are 512 guest rooms and some very thick glass windows, which overlook the active runways. Or Queens if you’re cheap. The phones are even rotary. 

It’s a fun pitstop. Visit if you’re able.

Rooms with runway views show a lot of action.  I love watching all the planes comes and go.
Turboprops were the method of propulsion in aircraft right until jets killed their widespread use.  Jet engines are easier to maintain, have better fuel efficiency, and generate more power.  This means larger aircraft and more paying customers per flight. 
The split-flap board was rebuilt by the original company, Solari.  They continue to make signage the world over and are based in Italy.
Best do what it says.

L.K.D.

,