KCRag Forum

Sani wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 1:25 am And is there a way to guarantee the reflection from the panels won't blind incoming pilots?

Camouflage pattern.

PDX has a huge massive garage blocking their main terminal but I haven't seen anyone saying it completely ruined their airport?

TheSmokinPun wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:17 pm PDX has a huge massive garage blocking their main terminal but I haven't seen anyone saying it completely ruined their airport?

I barely noticed it because I was trying to navigate where I was going. Everything kind of blended together into one big structure and I had never been there before.

It was super nice that the rental car drop off was in the garage.

People coming from KC will be happy it's close, people renting a car will be dropped off by shuttle and won't care.

Also, the new terminal is surrounded by nothing? What view are you missing?

Every airport I want to be able to move around quickly, eat, drink, and leave quickly.

Who are you weirdos that go sightseeing at airports? Whose experience would be improved by putting a couple floors underground? If we had a downtown airport you might justify the cost, but come on. You could burry the parking in china and you’re still not going to have a better experience.

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:59 pm
Who are you weirdos that go sightseeing at airports? Whose experience would be improved by putting a couple floors underground? If we had a downtown airport you might justify the cost, but come on. You could burry the parking in china and you’re still not going to have a better experience.

The garage being tall would actually be a good spot. It's no less weird than many other hobbies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_spotting

Some airport I was recently at had a cool spot for people to park next to one of the runways. Charlotte maybe?

Oh I think watching airplanes is great! I love that stuff

An In-N-Out adjacent to LAX is a well-known plane watching spot.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 3:30 pm Some airport I was recently at had a cool spot for people to park next to one of the runways. Charlotte maybe?

Charlotte has one between the runways if I remember correctly, operated by their parks and rec that has benches and trash cans. Love field has a similar setup down in Dallas, except it’s right at the end of one of the runways. KCI could definitely do a park on the southern and western edges of the runways and provide an awesome amenity to come planewatch at

There used to be a Hilton Inn lounge on Quality Hill that was known for plane-watching of the downtown airport.

https://kchistory.org/islandora/object/ ... m/OBJ/view

FangKC wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 7:11 pm There used to be a Hilton Inn lounge on Quality Hill that was known for plane-watching of the downtown airport.

https://kchistory.org/islandora/object/ ... m/OBJ/view

Whoa! I have never seen this before. Are there actual photos of this place somewhere? (Google wasn't much help)

^ This later became a Howard Johnson's IIRC. It was there as recently as the 1980s. One day it was there, next it vanished. That happened a lot in KC in the 1980s.

Here is a photo of it. You can zoom in.

https://kchistory.org/islandora/object/ ... m/OBJ/view

A postcard.



The parking garage that was underneath the motel is still there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1074054 ... a=!3m1!1e3

I remember the HJ sign when I was being driven through downtown as a kid.

Kind of reminds me of the north terminal at Detroit. Pickup was a mess. But I'm sure they've done better.

There was also The Four Winds restaurant in the downtown airport terminal where you would watch activity on the landing strips. I can remember eating there while waiting for my brothers to arrive back from Germany when they were in the Army.

https://kclibrary.org/blog/kc-q-explores-four-winds

The newspaper went on, “A large antique brass fixture has been mounted at one end of the room, with both electric and gas lights. The outstanding feature, of course, is the view. The restaurant windows look out on the runway of the airport, and some of the excitement and romance of taking off and landing carry into the room.”

Here is mention of it as a Howard Johnsons.

http://www.highwayhost.org/Missouri/motorlodge.html

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 8:32 am I don't disagree it would be better below ground but nobody (airlines) are paying for that hence why every airport has it.

Not every airport has a parking garage that towers over it. Just the ones that are built as cheaply as possible.

My issue is that we had an opportunity for something world class and settled for the cheapest, cookie cutter solution possible.

World class? Lol

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 11:50 am World class? Lol

I know. Hilarious. Striving for anything world class with our civic buildings in Kansas City is a foreign concept to many on here.

The cheap built reality compared to the original design is a stark contrast.

But hey, that’s good enough.

MidtownCat wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:00 pm

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 11:50 am World class? Lol

I know. Hilarious. Striving for anything world class with our civic buildings in Kansas City is a foreign concept to many on here.

The cheap built reality compared to the original design is a stark contrast.

But hey, that’s good enough.

Who was going to pay for this?