Visit to Wichita, December 2015

Mary Ann and I visited Wichita. This post has some photos.

We went to Wichita for a Christmas family gathering. There was an extended family gathering before Christmas, then individual families can ‘do their own thing’ on Christmas. We flew out of Mesa Gateway on Allegiant Air at 7:20 AM on Friday, and returned Monday on the 11:30 AM flight.

MA and I went to Oak Park on Saturday, which is on the Arkansas River in Wichita. I saw on the web that it’s a very good birding site, and that was confirmed on our visit. We saw a lot of different kinds of birds there. It was a quick trip and I didn’t have time to take many pictures. I did get another photograph of the Wood Duck (we saw it last time we were in Wichita). I also got the Carolina Wren, which is a new one for me.

The family pictures are from the gathering at John and Jenny’s house.

We saw a picture of Mary Ann’s Grandfather at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport in Wichita (previously known as the Mid-Continent Airport). I included it in the pictures posted below. Wichita claims the title of ‘Air Capital of the World’. This is a bit of chamber of commerce hype, but there is also some truth to it. The history of aviation in Wichita has a who’s who of aviation pioneers, including: Cessna, Laird, Beech, Jayhawk, Stearman, Swallow, and Travel Air. Boeing had a large manufacturing plant there where Mary Ann’s Dad worked his entire career. Mary Ann’s Grandfather worked in the aviation industry in the nascent years. He worked with Clyde Cessna, and others. He was prominent in the documentary ‘History of Aviation in Wichita’. The airport has a display showing many of the pioneers of aviation in Wichita. One of them is on Cessna, and if you look closely you’ll see Mary Ann’s Grandfather in the picture.

Thanks to all for their hospitality on our trip, especially: Nancy for putting us up, Teresa for letting us drive the Mazda Miata (fun little car!), John and Jenny for hosting the party, Lisa for the ceramic Christmas tree (which Mary Ann somehow managed to carry on the plane in her back pack!), and all.

Here are the pictures: