Aviation Restaurants

[BK]

The old TWA terminal at JFK airport in NYC has been converted into a aviation (TWA) themed hotel. In addition, a Lockheed Starliner (N8083H) on the old tarmac has been converted into a cocktail lounge. https://www.twahotel.com/

In Cleveland, OH the IX Center Convention Hall that used to be an assembly plant for B-29 wings and the XP-75 before becoming a tank factory, has a KC-97G (52-2604) that is being converted into a restaurant to open in 2020. https://aerodynamicmedia.com/kc-97g-eatery/

[Jerry O'Neill]

Bomb Bay Cafe is in Naugatuck, CT.
Nice aviation theme!
The Bomb Bay Cafe
413 North Main St
Naugatuck
203-632-9820

[Mike]

Did the DC-7 Grille at New Smyrna Beach ever open? It has signage outside indicating that it was due to open shortly when I visited there in 2012, but I've never seen any reports of it actually opening.

[b29driver]

In Colorado Springs, there is one ironically called The Airplane Restaurant. They have a KC 97 stratotanker, the complete fuselage and the right-wing, right up against the building. I didn't get to eat there, but I did stay at the hotel that shares the parking lot with it. I wish we could have had dinner here instead as the hotel food was not very good!

I have eaten in THAT airplane, but it was back in the mid 1970's at FL250 over the North Atlantic enroute to Frankfurt!

[Scott Rose]

With the rise of Covid, have any aviation restaurants succumbed to the social distancing dilemma?

[RyanShort1]

With the rise of Covid, have any aviation restaurants succumbed to the social distancing dilemma?

Yes, some have, but I don't have a list. Thankfully, Delta Charlies at Dallas Executive Airport (home of Commemorative Air Force HQ) is still open on my field.

[MichiganRick]

Bomber Restaurant - Ypsilanti, MI
http://www.bomberrestaurant.net/

[myteaquinn]

Cleveland Ohio took a double hit due to COVID:

100th Bomb Group restaurant up for auction

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment ... ction.html

Cleveland’s I-X Center closes permanently due to coronavirus pandemic

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2020 ... demic.html

The article does not mention KC-97 (52-2604) which was slated to become the restaurant and it's disposition.

[Tulio]

"El Avión" (The Airplane) Restaurant in Quepos, Costa Rica.

Information provided to me, by Dr. Gary Kuhn:

Gary Kuhn photographed this Fairchild C-123K Provider, at the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica's storage area, located at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in January 1991.

The little we know about this "Provider" is, that it was initially built by Fairchild Aviation at their Hagerstown, MD plant in 1954 as a C-123B-8-FA with Fairchild's c/n 20112 and USAF's s/n 54-663. It was accepted by the USAF some time around 1954.
Data on the aircraft's service with the USAF, USAFR or ANG is unknown to me at this time.

It is known that once it was withdrawn from US Military service, it went into storage, and eventually made it probably sub-rosa for service with the Fuerza Democrática Nicaragüense [The Contras] in their fight agains the Sandinista Government of Nicaragua during the 1980s-1990s. It acquired during this period, the US civilian registration N62781 (C-123K, 54-0663).

The US Registration was cancelled 18 November 1988, and then for one reason or another, the Provider ended up at the Costa Rican MSP's storage area, where Gary saw it in 1991. The photo shows a faded SEA camouflage pattern as well as obliterated markings.

Eventually, the airplane was dismantled [see photos here: http://www.costaverde.com/avionmove.htm]

The new owner, was the Finca Manuel Antonio, in Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica.

Once disassembled in its major components, these were moved first by road, and then by barge to Quepos, where the airplane was once again assembled, and now is the main theme of a restaurant named "El Avion" [The Airplane] Manuel Antonio Hill in Quepos, Costa Rica.

Terry Fletcher's

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframePho ... rial=21188

The airplane re-named as “Ollie's Folly” [In reference to USMC's Lt. Col. Oliver North] is now sitting on a hill above the restaurant, in Quepos.
<a href="http://flickriver.com/photos/pvdac/5594409079/">View on black</a>


Fairchild C-123K Provider:



Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Chase Aircraft / Fairchild Aircraft - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1952
Production: 307
Crew: 3 + 62
Length: 78.48ft (23.92m)
Width: 110.01ft (33.53m)
Height: 33.99ft (10.36m)
Weight (Empty): 35,367lbs (16,042kg)
Weight (MTOW): 59,525lbs (27,000kg)
Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-99W Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial piston engines generating 2,300hp each; 2 x General Electric J85-GE-17 turbojet engines developing 2,850lbf each.
Maximum Speed: 228mph (367kmh; 198kts)
Maximum Range: 1,035miles (1,666km)
Service Ceiling: 28,871ft (8,800m; 5.5miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,150 feet per minute (351m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite: None.



This, via Martin Wienert @laahs.com

http://www.laahs.com/threads/391-Provider-in-Costa-Rica
20112 • C-123B C-123K 54-0663 N62781
Ascher Ward, Van Nuys CA 7.87
V. Gonzales .88
struck-off USCR 17.11.88
(wfu open storage, San Jose, Costa Rica 96)
El Avion restaurant, Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica 00/05
http://www.goodall.com.au/warbirds-d.../fairchild.pdf

1970
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft...000972833.html

1978
http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=951963

Even today emblem of 439th Tactical Airlift Wing (1974-1987) above the door.
Last operated (1986) by U. S. Air Force Reserve, Westover ARB, Massachusetts/USA

It acquired during this period, the US civilian registration N62781 (C-123K, 54-663).
According to the restaurant "El Avion", this was one of the two C-123's used during the Iran-Contra affair in 1986. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1954.html
The US Registration was cancelled 18 November 1988.

Attachments

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[Tulio]

It has been a while (2001) when I saw this airplane at a road intersection some 65 miles NNE from Montreal, Canada.


Saludos,


Tulio

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[Tulio]

Herman, MO 07 July 2009


Saludos,


Tulio

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[Tulio]

Herman, MO dos (2)

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[Tulio]

Not 100% sure, I believe this restaurant was located in Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana.

Photo credit: Unknown.

EDITED

From Air Classics July 2019 Vol.55/No.7, page 10:

Carvair ATL-98-18 (C-54B-5-DI - 4317140) after going through several users, and having been withdrawn from use, ended up in the República Dominicana as HI-172.

Maybe was used as as spares source for Carvair HI-168?

There is a picture of the airplane's nose and fuselage, with the wings stuck on the ground and a bus added to the left of the airplane, somewhat a'la diner. This, in Hotel Embajador, in the Capital Santo Domingo.

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Last edited by Tulio on Sun Nov 15, 2020 7:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Tulio]

This was a children's themed restaurant in Guatemala City, Guatemala. It was rented for birthday parties and so on.

Location was Avenida Hincapié, on the East side La Aurora IAP, near what was then the head of Runwat 01.

It was named "Panchito el Avioncito"

I saw it, If I recall correctly, in 1981 or 1983.

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Last edited by Tulio on Tue Nov 10, 2020 6:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Tulio]

Last for tonight, this was shot in Indianapolis, IN. It resembles pretty much, a similar restaurant in Lee's Summit, MO

Saludos,


Tulio

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