Jay,

I'm not sure this is the message we want to send to our guests, being
as close as we are to the runway and all!

Wise. Non-aviation types just don't understand the humor.

In the '70s I went into Philly International a number of times. Near
what was then general aviation parking (now part of the terminal) was a
bar with the tail of a Fokker triplane sticking out of the building.
Inside, the three wings were behind the bar. Was kind of a humorous
the first time. As I recall, it was funnier as you drank more...

On my last trip to DSM I noticed that the Air Guard had put up a full
size plastic model of a red-tail P-51 on a pylon. Looks really sharp.
I was kind of glad when the guys, in the late '70s, went around cutting
deals with air bases and city parks to trade the plastic model
airplanes for the real ones that had become "gate guardians" way back
when. It meant a lot of WWII airplanes got restored and flying again
and the air bases and parks got displays that looked a heck of a lot
better because the plastic models were nice and shiny instead of
corroded and faded.

Off topic, I am curious why the DSM Guard unit chose the red tail
theme. I'd heard that Iowa had played a significant role in the
Tuskegee Airman but don't recall what it was, the training wasn't
there, although it may have been that Iowa provided more of the pilots
than any other state, which wouldn't surprise me, given that it was one
of the very few states that prohibited a lot of the segregation
practiced elsewhere back then.

More mental wandering: I always wondered what happened to the gorgeous
Spitfire and Hurricane that were displayed in front of the base offices
at Biggin Hill airport, south of London when I flew there back in 1972.
I'm hoping those are flying again.

Somehow, I think an airplane on a stick in front of your motel would be
a little much.

Warmest regards,
Rick