Port Arthur To Maryland

The date was Tuesday, January 28 2025. The Chaparral was loaded and on it’s way to Maryland with Jay Ferraro of Ferraro Auto Transport. Harry’s flight didn’t leave Jack Brooks Regional Airport (KBPT) until the afternoon of Wednesday, January 29. Jay was estimating that he would be at the Montgomery County Airport on the afternoon of Thursday, January 30. This would give Harry plenty of time to get home and get some rest and be ready for the Chaparral’s arrival at the Montgomery County Airpark on Thursday, January 30.

Harry arrived early at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport on Wednesday. Harry’s plan was to clear the TSA check, get to his gate, and relax before the journey home. Regional airports have a general aviation feel to them and Harry felt right at home. Harry soon learned that TSA did not open until 40 minutes before the departure time and that the airport only had one airline flight per day. The airline operations for Jack Brooks Regional Airport consisted of one flight to Dallas Forth Worth and one from to Dallas Fort Worth.

Harry had a 2:30 departure out of KBPT and it was only a 45 minute flight over to Dallas Forth Worth (KDFW) with a connecting flight out of KDFW at 5:45 PM and an arrival in KDCA by 9 PM. This meant that he had plenty of time to find the gate for his connecting flight.

Shortly after clearing the TSA check, Harry received a text message from American Airlines that his flight from KBPT was delayed. The weather that day included low ceilings (near the minimums for the approach) and scattered thunderstorms. The first text said the flight was delayed until 4 PM and another text followed that said the flight was delayed until 5 PM. This meant that he would miss his connecting flight. The gate agents at KBPT were very helpful and secured Harry another flight out of KDFW at 7 PM. All of this meant that he’d miss his first connecting flight, however, he now had a later connecting flight. So far, so good. But not so fast. Once loaded on the plane, the flight out of KBPT was held on the ground until 6:20 PM. This delay meant that Harry may not make the second connecting flight (the update one). The flight finally departed KBPT and landed just at the scheduled departure time of the connecting flight. Harry rushed through the terminal to the gate for his flight to KDCA only to watch the door being closed. Harry begged the gate agent to let him on, but the gate agent said boarding has closed. This agent did find Harry a later flight out of KDFW departing at 9:15 PM. So it was off to the new gate for this later flight. Keep in mind, that with all of these flight changes, Harry had to keep updating his limousine service waiting for him at KDCA. By now, Harry was booked on his third flight out of KDFW.

Houston we have a problem. While at the gate for his third flight out of KDFW, Harry received another text stating that the 9:15 flight was canceled. By now, there was talk on Facebook about the American Airlines CRJ crash in the Potomac and this was why the 9:15 flight was canceled (KDCA was closed). All passengers for the 9:15 flight were directed to another gate to be booked on another flight. Once there, Harry was told that there were no more flights until 5:30 the next morning (Thursday, January 30). With no choice, Harry took this flight. The gate agent did offer a hotel voucher. By now it was after 10 PM. It didn’t make much sense to go to a motel for a few hours, so Harry decided just to stay in the terminal. He did receive a dinner voucher which he did not use. Wanting to get a few hours sleep, Harry set off to find a quiet place to sleep. With some luck, Harry noticed a balcony that overlooked the main floor. Upstairs he found these two chairs (pictured below) which he moved together for a makeshift bed. He managed to stay there until about 3 AM. Needing to use the restroom, he was torn between being uncomfortable or loosing his bed. The restroom was just below the balcony, he could see it from his bed. So he decided to rush down and rush back to his bed. He wasn’t gone more than 3 minutes and someone took his bed. By now, it was about 3:30 AM and by 4 AM, he received a text message from American Airlines saying that the 5:30 AM flight was also canceled. This was the fourth flight out of KDFW that didn’t happen for Harry. It turns out that KDCA was still closed due to the accident the night before.

So now it is Thursday, January 30 and Jay is due at the Montgomery County Airpark with the Chaparral sometime in the late afternoon. Harry had coordinated with some folks at the airport to let him keep the Chaparral in a hangar for a few weeks while he made room at his house for the car. It was important for Harry to be at the airport to help unload the car. All of the body panels needed to be removed from the car so that the panels didn’t rub on the ground on trailer door while being loaded and unloaded. It was impossible to find a live gate agent at 4 AM to help with finding a fifth flight out of KDFW. By now, Harry was speaking with his wife back in Maryland to help with the situation. Pat did get American Airlines on the phone and was told that they did not have any flights out of KDFW until Friday afternoon. Desperate and needing to get back to Maryland, Harry had no choice but to purchase another ticket with United Airlines. This flight was to KBWI via a connecting flight in Chicago. Remember, it was connecting flights that got Harry into this predicament in the first place. But if all worked out, Harry may still be at the Montgomery County Airpark in time to meet Jay with the Chaparral. Harry was sweating bullets on his flight from KDFW to Chicago with fears of missing yet another connecting flight. United Airlines saved the day. Harry finally made it back to Maryland just a few hours before Jay was to arrive with the Chaparral.

During all of the chaos on Thursday, January 30, Harry was in a bit of a panic mode. Needing to be in touch with folks at the airport for hangar access, needing to update Jay (delivering the Chaparral), and the limousine service picking him up at the airport, Harry had no choice but to have his wife take over updating everyone since he would likely be in the air and unable to text anyone.

And now for the Chaparral’s arrival to the Montgomery County Airpark.

As you can see in the video, Jay is very excited about the car.

And here is part 2 of the Chaparral’s arrival.