Elder Air
1989. Watercolor & ink. 10½" x 6½"
Around 1988–1989 there was growing concern about the age of the U.S. airline fleet. Reports of pieces falling off planes mid-flight, and accidents due to mechanical failure and metal fatigue caused a media frenzy, and led to a lot of paranoia and angst among airline travelers and other observers. The consensus among most “experts” was that many planes were simply getting too old to fly. When I went to draw this, I based the face on photos of my own grandfather.
