I bought my new airplane that summer and invited my “flying family” to my hangar for Thanksgiving dinner. I pulled my BBQ out, popped in the turkey and the BBQ lid wouldn’t close because the turkey was TOO big.
Fast dash down the taxiway to the only shop that was open where I begged the owner to let me use his band saw to cut the turkey in half (with promises of “hospital-clean” before and after use).
Later, with the two-halves-of-the-turkey now cooked, my flying family arrived and seated themselves at tables (rolling tool cribs & work tables) and chairs (shorter tool boxes & upturned buckets), with their assortment of sides and desserts deftly balanced on the only remaining flat-ish surfaces (the low wings of my airplane).
We noticed the BBQ smoke trailing down the taxiway, across the runway, and into the air intakes of the tower for air traffic control (ATC). I grabbed my handheld radio, called the tower, and asked ATC if they wanted to join us for the meal. It was quickly arranged to drive a food-laden golf cart down the taxiways to deliver “lunch”. We stopped short of the runway, waiting for an airplane on final approach to land.
“AIRPLANE 12345, GO AROUND!” ATC barked. The startled pilot dutifully added power and climbed away, silently wondering why he was abruptly denied landing.
“LUNCH WAGON ONE JULIET X-RAY, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY ONE TWO. PARK ON THE BACK PARKING PAD.” ATC used my new plane’s number as a way of acknowledging that they were “remote guests” at our little feast.
And thus began the journey through FAA ORDER JO7110.65AA, now jokingly known as “Better ATC Services Through Food Bribery”.
With love and great admiration to all my ATC pals, past and present,
Yes Mike, I remember those lonely holiday shifts at a Sohio station in North Central Ohio. I am just a couple years older and spent a few years doing that duty. I think it was 1976 we were at a Thanksgiving feast at a relative's house and it began to snow and snow. We finally determined we had better head for our own house before it was too deep to get there even with the '73 Dodge Sno-Fighter pickup. We did get up the steep hill that was the last 1/4 mile. In the morning we got up to a real surprise. It had snowed well over 12" of heavy and wet and then the wind started. I spent the next two and a half days making a large sum of money plowing snow and at the last customer, he offered me enough money for the truck I sold it to him on the spot...with the condition that he take me home. Happy Thanksgiving all!
My name is also Mike...In 1971 I was working at a local GULF station...Chief flunky and pump jockey most of the time...The owner's name was FRANK too..!
53 years ago....Long time past...
BTW - The photo shows a Standard Oil station. Gulf had the large orange circle and metal building. But those fuel pumps were the same I used.
Whiteman Airport 1986
I bought my new airplane that summer and invited my “flying family” to my hangar for Thanksgiving dinner. I pulled my BBQ out, popped in the turkey and the BBQ lid wouldn’t close because the turkey was TOO big.
Fast dash down the taxiway to the only shop that was open where I begged the owner to let me use his band saw to cut the turkey in half (with promises of “hospital-clean” before and after use).
Later, with the two-halves-of-the-turkey now cooked, my flying family arrived and seated themselves at tables (rolling tool cribs & work tables) and chairs (shorter tool boxes & upturned buckets), with their assortment of sides and desserts deftly balanced on the only remaining flat-ish surfaces (the low wings of my airplane).
We noticed the BBQ smoke trailing down the taxiway, across the runway, and into the air intakes of the tower for air traffic control (ATC). I grabbed my handheld radio, called the tower, and asked ATC if they wanted to join us for the meal. It was quickly arranged to drive a food-laden golf cart down the taxiways to deliver “lunch”. We stopped short of the runway, waiting for an airplane on final approach to land.
“AIRPLANE 12345, GO AROUND!” ATC barked. The startled pilot dutifully added power and climbed away, silently wondering why he was abruptly denied landing.
“LUNCH WAGON ONE JULIET X-RAY, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY ONE TWO. PARK ON THE BACK PARKING PAD.” ATC used my new plane’s number as a way of acknowledging that they were “remote guests” at our little feast.
And thus began the journey through FAA ORDER JO7110.65AA, now jokingly known as “Better ATC Services Through Food Bribery”.
With love and great admiration to all my ATC pals, past and present,
Weasel 2
(Copyright 2024, Test West LLC)
Yes Mike, I remember those lonely holiday shifts at a Sohio station in North Central Ohio. I am just a couple years older and spent a few years doing that duty. I think it was 1976 we were at a Thanksgiving feast at a relative's house and it began to snow and snow. We finally determined we had better head for our own house before it was too deep to get there even with the '73 Dodge Sno-Fighter pickup. We did get up the steep hill that was the last 1/4 mile. In the morning we got up to a real surprise. It had snowed well over 12" of heavy and wet and then the wind started. I spent the next two and a half days making a large sum of money plowing snow and at the last customer, he offered me enough money for the truck I sold it to him on the spot...with the condition that he take me home. Happy Thanksgiving all!
Talk about DeJa'Vu all over again...
My name is also Mike...In 1971 I was working at a local GULF station...Chief flunky and pump jockey most of the time...The owner's name was FRANK too..!
53 years ago....Long time past...
BTW - The photo shows a Standard Oil station. Gulf had the large orange circle and metal building. But those fuel pumps were the same I used.
Happy Turkey Day to all!!!!
Hey other Mike,
I found a picture of a 1970’s Gulf station and swapped it in…😎
That’s a great Story Mike. Thanks for sharing it. Happy Thanksgiving to all!