A Day of Planes

An American Airlines Boeing 777 arrives at DFW's runway 18-right.
An American Airlines Boeing 777 arrives at DFW’s runway 18-right.

Ever since my late wife’s daughter Chele and her family moved to Anna, Texas, I’ve wanted to visit Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s Founder’s Plaza, which is about 45 minutes from Chele’s home.

When it comes to flying, I am a kid at heart. Here I am posing with bronze statues of kids "flying." My shirt, a gift from my wife, says, "I'm a pilot; what's your superpower?"
When it comes to flying, I am a kid at heart. Here I am posing with bronze statues of kids “flying.” My shirt, a gift from my wife, says, “I’m a pilot; what’s your superpower?”
Paul Thomas Reeves uses my 500mm to photograph the jets. Longtime Ada and Byng residents might be interested to know that Paul is Dorothy Milligan's great-grandson.
Paul Thomas Reeves uses my 500mm to photograph the jets. Longtime Ada and Byng residents might be interested to know that Paul is Dorothy Milligan’s great-grandson.

My readers know that I have always been a big fan of aviation in all forms, and I became a pilot in 1993. I love air shows, military aviation, commercial aviation, anything.

I thought this overhead lamp was art unto itself, especially the wires on top, designed to keep birds from landing on it.
I thought this overhead lamp was art unto itself, especially the wires on top, designed to keep birds from landing on it.

Built in 1995, Founders’ Plaza is an observation park dedicated to the founders of DFW Airport.

Founder's Plaza flies the Dallas flag, the Texas flag, and the U.S. flag.
Founder’s Plaza flies the Dallas flag, the Texas flag, and the U.S. flag.

I was a little afraid I might bore Chele, her husband Tom, and their 13-year-old son Paul, but they ended up loving it too. We saw lots of jets, some arriving from or departing to locations across the globe. We had a great time, and vowed we would return, possibly at sunrise or sunset, maybe in the fall.

An Avianca Airbus A320 passes "over the fence, over the numbers."
An Avianca Airbus A320 passes “over the fence, over the numbers.”

I recommend this attraction, which is free, for anyone who loves airplanes.

A Korean Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner starts it's takeoff roll for it's nearly 15-hour slight to Seoul, South Korea. It can be tempting to think of these very long flights as mundane, but I still look at it as something very amazing. For what it's worth, I was back in Ada, had walked my dogs, had dinner, and gone to bed before this aircraft arrived at it's destination.
A Korean Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner starts it’s takeoff roll for it’s nearly 15-hour slight to Seoul, South Korea. It can be tempting to think of these very long flights as mundane, but I still look at it as something very amazing. For what it’s worth, I was back in Ada, had walked my dogs, had dinner, and gone to bed before this aircraft arrived at it’s destination.