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Our third look at the Dulles Airport "mobile lounges" that moved passengers from terminal to plane. Consisting of a body made the Budd Co. of Philadelphia mated to a Chrysler chassis powered by two 172-hp engines, each 37-ton, 90-passenger unit cost $232,733; an engineering prototype constructed in 1961 cost $1.6 million.
"Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia, 1958-63. Eero Saarinen, architect. Mobile lounges." Photo by Balthazar Korab. View full size.
As Dave noted, they are still in use between terminals. However, on at least one occasion as recently as 2006, one did drive up to a plane so passengers could scuttle on and be transported to the main terminal (we had just arrived on a flight very early in the morning).
Since Dulles is one of my local airports, I am forced to deal with them on a fairly regular basis. I hate the damn things.
I suppose I have to admit that I'm old. When you rode in a vehicle you see on a vintage photo site.
"Wonder if they are still in use?" - yes they seem to be in use. Take a look at an aerial view of Dulles from your favorite map app to see them in action, looking like little critters.
[The ones in use today shuttle between terminal buildings, and don't meet the aircraft. - Dave]
We rode one of these a few weeks ago between concourses when we flew through IAD. Mrs. A didn't know what to make of the contraption... Is it a room? Is it a bus? The kids enjoyed it, anyway.
As a graphic designer I can tell you that Helvetica has been around since about 1960, and a few years before that under a different name, so its use here is no surprise. A great typeface, but sometimes overused.
Not sure this usage is surprising: both Helvetica and Univers (a close match) were released in 1957, and most architects are notorious font junkies. Many believe themselves good graphic designers, a woeful misconception.
Rode them from 87-92 whenever traveling through Dulles.
Either this was a surprisingly early use of Helvetica Bold, or this photo was taken several years after the airport opened.
[These photos were taken when the airport opened, during the winter of 1962-63. - Dave]
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