The Harvard Cafe - Where Time Flies

What is it about pilots, commuter airports, flying clubs and brunch? For some reason they all go together.

me getting ready to take Ric's plane up for a spin. not!

Our friend Ric, a retired executive for a computer systems software company, is still very active in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. And he is a commercial pilot. Not only does he fly but he teaches flying too at the Leavenworth Airport near his ranch in Missouri. He owns several planes, including a really cool 1942 WWII Army L-2 that he restored, and houses them there with the Leavenworth Flying Club. They do not have a dining room but the pilots like to go out for a $200 breakfast at some of the local airports that do. $5 for food and $195 for the gas to fly to Topeka.

Richard inside the Aspen Flying Club hangar

My brother-in-law Richard is a pilot as well and on Saturdays he and his family like to have breakfast at the restaurant overlooking the runway at Denver's Centennial Airport where he flies. They often went for brunch on Saturdays too at the Allaire Airport when they summered at the Jersey Shore.





 


So when Ric came to visit us in Joburg we simply had to go to the Harvard Cafe for brunch. (We will take Richard as well when he comes in January!) The Harvard Cafe is the name of the restaurant at both the Grand Central Airport and the Rand Airport which overlooks the runways there.

 It was nice to sit outside in front of the runway.

Besides going to grab some breakfast, Ric is looking to see if he can find a part time position in Africa as a bush pilot for some flying safaris. I am of course encouraging this occupation so I can go with him in the air to see the Great Wildebeest Migration next year from above. I'm no fool!

Afrikaans for "Remove before flying."