Runway Air Traffic Control

You here for the tower job? Good, come in, grab a seat. There were no other applicants so

*radio starts crackling*

CLIPPER 1 [BOEING 707-320B, PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS, OUTBOUND TO SAN FRANCISCO]: Idlewild Tower, Clipper 1, holding short of four left, ready for departure.

TOWER [IDLEWILD-KENNEDY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, NEW YORK CITY]: Clipper 1, cleared for takeoff, four left.

CLIPPER 1: Cleared for takeoff four left, Clipper 1. Good night, Tower.

That was a Jet Clipper. I came to this field in 1948. Before that I was at the Marine Air Terminal, where the Clippers came in on the water.

SPEEDBIRD 535 [VICKERS VC10, BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION, INBOUND FROM LONDON]: Tower, Speedbird 535. We have been in your pattern for some time.

TOWER: Speedbird, continue holding. You are number four.

BRANIFF 6 [BOEING 707-227, BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS, INBOUND FROM DALLAS]: Evening, Tower. Braniff 6. No hurry on our end. The boys in back have found the bar.

TOWER: Braniff, continue holding. You are number five.

BRANIFF 6: Suits us fine, Tower. Y'all take your time.

SWISSAIR 110 [DOUGLAS DC-8, INBOUND FROM ZURICH]: Tower, Swissair 110. We wish it recorded that we arrived on time.

TOWER: Recorded, Swissair. Cleared to land four right.

MOHAWK 10 [CONVAIR 440 METROPOLITAN, MOHAWK AIRLINES, INBOUND FROM ALBANY]: Tower, Mohawk 10. We are the small one.

TOWER: I have you, Mohawk. Two engines, propellers, north of the field. Welcome to Idlewild.

After the war the land planes came and they were gorgeous. A Lockheed Constellation, three tails, four engines you could hear from Jamaica Bay, and a navigator behind the pilots who could see the stars. A Douglas DC-6, which always wanted fuel. A Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, two decks, and a bar on the lower one.

EASTERN 11 [BOEING 727-100, EASTERN AIR LINES, INBOUND FROM BOSTON]: Tower, Eastern 11. We are a Boeing 727.

TOWER: I know what you are, Eastern. You arrived in February and you have not stopped mentioning it. F…