Home to the official World War I museum of the United States, the Liberty Memorial is a National Historic Landmark replete in both splendor and honor. Standing proud at 217 feet tall in Kansas City, Missouri, the spire is a memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers of WWI. Majestic in its architectural style of classical Egyptial Revival, the limestone tower is etched with a winged lion on either side. Named Memory, the Eastern faced feline shields its face from the heinous past of the European battlefields while the Western faced lion called Future, covers its eyes from unseen eventualities. Simultaneously poignant and astonishing, at night the memorial emits orange illuminated steam, giving an illusion of a burning pyre while the tower balcony offers breathtaking views of the entire skyline. An official Cockpit USA See America destination of choice.

Between the 1870s and 1900s, the New York City was in the burgeoning stage of carving out its iconic shape in the skies courtesy of major newspaper headquarters. The Times, Tribune and World built up their iconic towers, cutting tall figures in the skyline and forming ‘Newspaper Row’ located east of City Hall Park. Unlike today, the entire news production operation from sniffing out stories, to editing, printing and distribution was housed under one looming roof. As self confessed vultures of culture and history lovers, the new exhibition at The Skyscraper Museum in NYC entitled Newspaper Spires: From Park Row to Times Square certainly caught our attention at Cockpit USA! Not only will authentic photographs and architectural drawings of the buildings be on show, but books, magazines and old, grizzly newspapers of yesteryear will also be on display as a tribute to the paling existence of the print world and the power it once wielded.

With leather and laces practically in their blood, four generations of the aptly named Shoemaker family have been hand crafting Wesco heavy duty boots. At the grand age of 94 years, the Scappoose based brand began by producing made to measure boots for loggers and have evolved ever since offering services that include custom boot building. 155 precise steps go into the creation of every pair of Wesco’s from the materials. As fellow leather goods merchants, Cockpit USA are fans and we’re going to order ourselves a pair. Or seven.

- Cliff

Anything associated with Clint Eastwood, the movie legend and original silver screen tough guy is almost certainly guaranteed to attain the Cockpit favorite status and Letters from Iwo Jima is no exception. Rather than star in front of the camera, Eastwood took the reigns as director and co-producer of this 2006 movie which depicts the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 from the Japanese point of view. Gallantly shot, the film presents a uniquely thoughtful and profound portrayal of the human experience of war beyond allegiance and nationality. Serving as an accompanying piece to Flags of our Fathers, which conveys the American angle of the battle, Letters from Iwo Jima is a staggering insight into a lesser told story and an official addition to the Cockpit USA Movie Monday hall of fame.

Every Friday at Cockpit USA we like to present you with unique dining experiences that combine aviation and food. However, this week we bring you something that raises the bar in the unique stakes. Located in Colorado Springs, is one of the largest piston aircraft ever to be created by Boeing – the Boeing KC-97. Built in 1953, the plane is not merely just a visual history lesson in aviation… it also happens to contain a very aptly named restaurant too! Entitled The Airplane Restaurant, this eaterie seats 42 and boasts a menu of all time favorites including their signature Steak Neptune, Salmon Neptune and Chicken Marsala. Decorated with hundreds of pieces of memorabilia and photographs, the Airplane Restaurant is an all encompassing and genuinely unparalleled aviation and dining experience!

1665 N. Newport Rd.
One block east of Powers on Fountain Blvd.
719-570-7656