You’ve likely flown on a Boeing airliner, but dining inside a KC-97 tanker is a rarer experience. Built in 1953, this decommissioned KC-97 — one of Boeing’s largest piston-powered aircraft — once came close to being abandoned in the Atlantic after its crew initially failed to find a landing strip in the Azores. Fortunately it landed safely and, decades later, has been restored and repurposed as The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The restaurant’s menu offers a full selection of appetizers, soups, salads and entrees, many with aviation-inspired names like Piper Club, Reuben von Crashed and Flying Fortress Fajita Salad. The beverage list includes cocktails as well as a variety of local craft beers. While dining, guests can explore hundreds of historic photographs, artifacts and memorabilia displayed throughout the aircraft and adjacent spaces, creating an atmosphere rich in aviation history.
The Airplane Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and is available for private events. It is located on Fountain Boulevard next to the Radisson Hotel Colorado Springs. The unique setting and themed menu make it a memorable stop for visitors and locals interested in aviation and distinctive dining experiences.
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