I remembered about Braniff International Airways service in
America. I was 7 years old. My 3rd Grade Teacher took me
and my classmates to the Kansas City International Airport,
Missouri from Kansas School for the Deaf, Olathe, Kansas
during Fall 1974. We visited to the Braniff International
Terminal when I begun to see and learn on airplane including
inside the cabin, cockpit, galley and restroom. Pilot gave
some small toy paper aircraft to me and my classmates while
we stand with him in front of the airplane door inside the
walkway. I did not fly this airplane yet.
Later until Summer 1979,
I was 13 with my Mother and Grandma inside the gate of
Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas. We saw nice design of
the Braniff airplane following the photo. It arrived to our gate.
My Mother was not going with me and my Grandma, we hugged,
kissed and left her. Grandma and I walked together inside the
walkway and arrived to the airplane. Grandma presented our
tickets to Stewdress before entered the airplane. We greeted
at crew friendly. Pilot asked us if I want to see inside the
cockpit. Grandma and I looked around it when I saw my
Mother in front of the window gate from cockpit window.
I started to wave over her when she begun to see me before
wave her hand to me and Grandma. I never forget this action.
Few minutes later, we belted our seats together. I sat on
window seat next to Grandma sat on center seat. Our airplane
started to run from the gate to the runaway while we saw
Stewdress to instruct the Safety issue to us and passengers.
Stewdresses checked on us and passengers to use our belts and
their belts safely before they walked back to galley seat.
Our airplane started to get high speed and run, run, run,… I felt
very nervous when my hands tight on the handle while Grandma
hold my hand easily and I witnessed on window and finally ran
off the runway. I was very thrilled to see beautiful white clouds
in air and full of green land.
Inside our cabin, I saw some Stewdresses carried the beverage
tray to passengers and us. I took a Orange Juice and Grandma
took same drink. We enjoyed viewing over the clouds. Grandma
and Passengers heard the speaker, I was unable to hear it and
enjoyed drinking. Grandma told me about our airplane will fly
down to the runaway of Kansas City International Airport,
Missouri least 1 hour.
Few minutes, we finished drinking our drinks before Stewdress
collected our empty drinks away before we belted together.
I saw near the green land, my hands tight on handle again.
Our airplane touched on the runaway safely. It run down to low
speed well. I saw some different airplanes (United Airlines
Delta Airlines) terminal. Passengers, Grandma and I got up
and walked together to exit the airplane when we thanked our
crew friendly.
Grandma and I carried our 2 small bags with us and walked out
of front terminal and wait for airport bus to other terminal where
we took a different airline, North Central Airlines under the
Republic Airlines.
We arrived at the North Central Airlines Ticket Counter.
Grandma gave our tickets to agent before waited for our
beautiful historical airplane on the ground while we were
in the front window gate. Few minutes until boarding time,
we walked downstairs out of the gate and inside the airplane
on my first time. I saw inside the cabin describing big cozy
seat and large window like time of the 1940’s. Grandma sat
on window seat and my aisle seat. The airplane door closed
before the fan started to speed up and ran to the runaway.
It got higher speed and ran up to air, I enjoyed viewing the
large window. Grandma and I enjoyed talking together before
Steward carried a beverage tray to us, we took our Coke drinks.
Our airplane kept flew for 1 hour until down to Sioux City Airport,
Iowa. We finished our drinks when Steward took them away.
Near to Airport, our airplane was coming to touch and bounced
on the runaway. I felt different between North Central Airlines
and Braniff International Airways. We got up from our seats and
walked downstairs out of the airplane to the ground. Grandma
asked me to see and wave my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Art Books
(Grandma’s Sister and Brother-in-Law) at front large window
airport. We entered the door where we hugged Aunt and Uncle
on beautiful sunny day.
Dedication
to
Rosemary Reding Peterson
On September 12, 2010, Grandma, 85 passed away in Wichita, Kansas.
She born in Sioux City, Iowa.
She was a Teacher at McLean’s Elementary School under the Wichita Public Schools before retired in 1990.
She departed her beloved husband, Leonard, deceased son, James, 2 survivor daughters, Janet and Lorry,
3 grandchildren, Brent Hisel, Kent Barnes, Lyndsay Stauble
and 7 grand, grandchildren.
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