Apr 2020 Let’s meet Monday 4/27 for lunch at Thaden Field, Bentonville, Arkansas, KVBT!
As Covid-19 hangs on, I couldn’t have been more interested to receive an extraordinary, mass-email invitation from Thaden Field. It was an invitation to fly in for lunch. That’s right. During coronavirus, their airport restaurant is open for carry out only, but they’ve created a fun and innovative way to serve their fly-in customers.
Thaden Field, Bentonville, AR
Thaden Field. Stick with me here. Thaden Field is more than any ole airport. In reality it is “Louise Thaden Field”, (1905-1979). LOUISE is the restaurant’s name and they happily promote everything we love about Louise. She was a mother, aviatrix, record setter, barnstormer, and Bentonville native. She’s one of the world’s first pilots and of course, a lady taildragger pilot! Louise set many records in the early days of aviation:
Women’s Altitude Record: 20,260 FT
Women’s Endurance Record: 22 HRS, 3 MINS, 12 SECS
Women’s Speed Record: 156 MPH
East-to-West Record: 14 HRS, 54 MINS, 46 SECS”
“The restaurant was named in honor of Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979). Born and raised in Bentonville, she was a proud Arkansan and one of the greatest aviators of her time. Her pioneering and innovative spirit inspires all of our guests who dine with us.”
LOUISE Restaurant during non-Covid-19 times
“We are offering a special experience for pilots to dine al fresco from our on-site restaurant. While public dining
rooms are closed, we’ll bring out a table and chairs beside your plane so you can dine on our circular ramp.”
Pre-flight CAFE LOUISE’s menu and hours of operation. Cafe Louise Menu
Summit Aviation
Phone: 479.254.0817
CTAF: 122.80
Louise Restaurant is open 7 days a week; breakfast, lunch & dinner. They open 8:00 a.m.
I suggest we have a social distancing, on the ramp by our airplanes, Monday meet-up lunch. I know it’s very short notice but so be it. Wx looks promising right now! Leave a comment or send an email to LadyTaildraggers@gmail.com if you’d like to join me. They have lots of space on their ramp so don’t be shy, please come! I’ll be flying 445 n.m. to meet you for lunch but it’ll be well worth it. Plan on arriving noon, central standard time and don’t forget to email me your plans.
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