Note that all techincal references and data in this article are from february 1961!
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One of the world's busiest airport, with an average of more than 700 take-offs and landings a day, Idlewild (it's built on land that once was a Long Islang golf course with that name) has become more than a terminal for some two dozen U.S. and foreign airlines. A recent $150.000.000 rebuilding program has turned it into a dramatic setting for space age.
Silver jetiner zooms into sky from Idlewild runway on flight to far-off places - now only a few hours away.
Idlewild is a sightseeing attraction in itself, fascinating not only to the 8.000.000 air passengers who arrive and leave during the year, but also to uncounted thousands of land-bound visitors who are thrilled by the airport's exciting color and design and by the sight of huge planes soaring to and from distant corners of the world.
Helicopter hovers noisily over airfield as it brings passengers to Idlewild on shuttle run from another airport.
Afternoon sun glints on glass walls and white radar dome of 10-story control tower, seen above arched roof of Arrival Building.
Huge circular concrete roof of Pan American Building - four acres in size - overhangs planes like a giant umbrella. Six big jets at a time can be sheltered under it.
Ever-shifting light patterns splash a play of color on floor of American Airlines Building as sunlight strikes the stained glass.
Arresting stylized drawings illustrate typical scenes abroad and in the U. S. in this murals that adds a holiday-like atmosphere to the walls of an airline lounge.
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