Space Shuttle Cafe

Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THE SPACE SHUTTLE--ITS SIZE, ITS POWER, ITS MISSION--THE WHOLE IDEA HAS ALWAYS FASCINATED ME, AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE CALIFORNIA CONNECTION, TOO, BECAUSE MANY TIMES IT LANDS ON THE DRY LAKE BED AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE.

BUT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY RIDE IN A SPACE SHUTTLE, WHICH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID ONE DAY UP IN VENTURA COUNTY.

I GUARANTEE YOU THIS IS A FIRST HERE IN THE TARGET PARKING LOT IN OXNARD.

THERE'S NOTHING EVER LIKE THIS BEEN PARKED OUT HERE IN THIS LOT BEFORE.

I'M STANDING HERE WITH... Becky: BECKY PETERSEN.

Huell: BECKY, AND... Phil: PHIL PETERSEN.

Huell: THE PETERSENS.

AND YOU ARE THE PROUD OWNERS OF WHAT YOU AFFECTIONATELY CALL THE... >> SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE.

Huell: THE SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE, AND I KNOW THERE'S GOTTA BE--THERE'S SO MANY QUESTIONS.

WHERE DO WE START?

BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE A WONDERFUL HISTORY BEHIND THIS.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THIS CAME FROM, AND WHAT THIS STARTED OUT AS.

>> WELL, THIS IS A DC-3 FUSELAGE THAT WAS BUILT IN 1944.

IT FLEW IN WORLD WAR II FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IN THE MILITARY.

IT THEN BECAME A, UH, AIRLINER FOR ALLEGHENY AIRLINES, FOR U.S. AIR, FOR ARGONAUT AIRWAYS, AND, UH, IN 1976, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE BONE YARD AND IT WAS GONNA BE SCRAPPED, AND A MAN NAMED SMOKEY ROLLAND, HE BOUGHT IT, AND HE TURNED IT INTO A MOTOR HOME ORIGINALLY.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

HE HAD--SMOKEY HAD THIS VISION WHEN HE SAW THIS OLD DC-3, AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, AND WAS THIS ABOUT THE REAL SIZE OF THE PLANE ITSELF?

>> NO, IT WAS 94 1/2 FEET LONG.

Phil: THE WINGS WERE 94 1/2 FEET.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE FUSELAGE WAS 64 1/2 FEET LONG.

THIS IS NOW 40 FEET.

Huell: SO IT'S BEEN CUT DOWN, BUT THIS IS THE ORIGINAL FUSELAGE OF THAT OLD WORLD WAR II AIRPLANE, WHICH THEN WENT TO ALLEGHENY, WHICH THEN WENT TO THE BONE YARD, WHICH THEN WENT TO SMOKEY, AND WHAT WAS SMOKEY'S VISION WHEN HE SAW THIS THING SITTING OUT THERE?

DID HE THINK-- Phil: WELL, WE NEVER MET SMOKEY.

HE'S PASSED FROM US, SO WE NEVER DID GET TO MEET HIM, BUT, UH, THE WORD IS THAT, UH, HE JUST WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND, UH, HE FOUND SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Huell: YOU SMILED WHEN HE SAID THAT.

>> I KNOW A STORY.

Huell: WHAT'S THE STORY?

Huell: WELL, HE HAD ALREADY CONVERTED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES TO, YOU KNOW, FROM A GREYHOUND BUS TO A MOTOR HOME, AND SO HE ACTUALLY HAD THE VISION BEFORE HE WENT TO THE BONE YARD.

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO.

HE JUST HADN'T FOUND THE PLANE YET.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS AMAZING.

LET'S STAND OUT HERE AS WE CONTINUE THIS INTERVIEW BECAUSE THIS IS--THIS IS KINDA THE BEST VIEW RIGHT HERE, ISN'T IT, TO KINDA GET A NICE SHOT OF IT LOOKING DOWN THE--LOOKING DOWN THE WAY HERE?

Phil: RIGHT.

RIGHT.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT YOUR LITTLE NOSE THING GOING HERE.

>> YEP.

IT'S AN ORIGINAL NOSE.

IT, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE BECAUSE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IT HAD BEEN ALL SMASHED IN.

Becky: BY A FORKLIFT.

Huell: BY A FORKLIFT.

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

THIS STORY KEEPS GETTIN' MORE AND MORE INTERESTING.

TELL US, NOW, LET'S SEE, SMOKEY GOT IT, AND HE HAD IT FOR HOW LONG?

>> HE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS, MAYBE 5, AND THEN A COUPLE, BOB AND HEIKE PFEIFFER BOUGHT IT FROM HIM, AND, UH, THEY WERE INTERESTED IN MORE DOING SOMETHING COMMERCIALLY WITH IT, AND, UH, SO THEY TURNED IT INTO WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE SMILE SHUTTLE.

Huell: THE SMILE SHUTTLE.

>> YES.

PAINTED IN THE SAME THEME.

UM, IT WAS WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE WAS IN FULL BLOOM IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, AND THEY JUST DECKED IT OUT IN CARPET, AND, UH, DID PROMOTIONAL-- Huell: THEY JUST DROVE AROUND MAKING PEOPLE SMILE.

>> WELL, YEAH, AND THEY DID PROMOTIONAL THINGS FOR COMPANIES.

Huell: BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG, DID IT?

>> WELL, THEY SHIPPED IT TO EUROPE ON A TRANSPORT, AND IT TOOK PART IN A LOT OF BIG CAR SHOWS IN EUROPE, TOO.

Huell: IN EUROPE?

>> YEAH, SO IT'S BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.

[BEEPING] Huell: WHAT'S THAT NOISE?

>> IT'S A TRUCK BACKIN' UP.

Huell: OH, I THOUGHT MAYBE THE SHUTTLE WAS GETTIN' READY TO MOVE.

>> THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN IT BACKS UP.

Huell: SO THIS WENT TO EUROPE?

>> MM-HMM.

TRANSPORT SHIP.

Huell: ON A WHAT?

A BIG SHIP?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE PICTURES OF IT ON THERE, YEAH.

Huell: WHEN DID YOU ALL GET HOLD OF IT?

>> WELL, MY BROTHER WAS A TRUCKER THEN, AND HE WAS DRIVI'' FROM, UH, YUMA TO OREGON EVERY WEEK, AND HE KNEW WE WERE LOOKIN' FOR SOMETHIN' 'CAUSE THIS IS JUST THE LAST PART OF OUR JOURNEY IN THE FOOD BUSINESS, AND HE AND HIS WIFE SAW IT SITTING IN AN EMPTY FIELD IN BEAUMONT, CALIFORNIA, SO HE SENT US A PICTURE OF IT, AND WE WENT DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT 4 DIFFERENT TIMES, TOOK PICTURES, AND KIND OF ANALYZED IT AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND GOT UNDER IT AND LOOKED IT ALL OVER, AND THEN WE CONTACTED THAT PRESENT OWNER, AND, UH, THE REST IS HISTORY.

WE GOT IT.

Huell: YOU GO IT-- >> WE GOT IT IN 2000.

Huell: THOSE EARLY--THOSE PICTURES OF IT, SITTIN' OUT IN THE FIELD IN BEAUMONT, THIS THING LOOKED KIND OF, YOU KNOW, RAGGED OUT THERE.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY DID.

>> IT HAD BEEN OUT THERE FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS.

Huell: JUST SITTIN' THERE?

>> JUST SITTING FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS.

Huell: SO AFTER IT WAS THE SMILE SHUTTLE, THERE WEREN'T MANY SMILES.

IT WAS OUT THERE IN A... >> IT WAS SAD.

Huell: IT WAS IN A--IT WAS IN A FIELD IN BEAUMONT UNTIL YOU ALL CAME ALONG.

AND DO YOU THANK YOUR BROTHER FOR CALLIN' YOU AND TELLIN' YOU ABOUT THIS, OR DO YOU--?

>> I TOLD MY BROTHER, "IF YOU AND PHIL, AND IF WE DON'T MAKE MONEY OFF THIS THING, I'LL KILL YOU BOTH."

[LAUGHING] Huell: BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF WORK TO GET IT LOOKIN' LIKE IT IS TODAY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

WE STARTED IN THE BEGINNING OF 2001, AND WE WORKED ON IT FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS.

Huell: REALLY?

SO YOU HAD TO, BASICALLY, REBUILD-- >> WE STRIPPED IT.

WE STRIPPED THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE, EVERYTHING INSIDE.

Becky: WE SOLD THE ORIGINAL ENGINE, WHICH WAS A MERCEDES, ON eBAY.

[LAUGHING] Huell: AND YOU GOT NEW TIRES.

NOW, BUT THIS IS--THIS IS ORIGINAL.

>> THIS IS THE ORIGINAL FUSELAGE, RIGHT.

Huell: SO THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SKIN THAT'S BEEN ON THIS THING SINCE WORLD WAR II.

>> YEAH.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PICTURES WHEN IT WAS AN AIRLINER, YOU'LL SEE THESE VERY OUTLINES.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT HERE.

WE'RE GONNA SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER TODAY, AND PART OF THE TIME WE'RE GONNA SPEND TOGETHER IS ACTUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THIS THING, WHICH I KNOW MUST BE AN EXPERIENCE UNTO ITSELF.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF THIS.

Huell: IF YOU'RE EVER FEELING A LITTLE DOWN OR THAT LIFE ISN'T FUN, I MEAN, THIS HAS GOTTA, YOU GOTTA BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION IN THIS THING.

>> YES, AND WE JUST INSTALLED A NEW AIR HORN, WHICH IS EVEN MORE FUN.

[LAUGHING] Huell: AS IF YOU NEEDED TO DRAW ANY MORE ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES.

BECAUSE, JUST HERE IN THE PARKING LOT, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ALMOST RUN INTO TREES AND CURBS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT DEFINITELY MAKES A STATEMENT.

>> IT DOES.

IT DOES.

PEOPLE JUST LOVE IT.

THEY LOVE IT.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS IF WE DO AN AIR SHOW, PARTICULARLY, GENTLEMEN THAT ARE IN, LIKE, THEIR 70s WILL COME UP AND SAY, THEY'LL TELL US THEIR STORIES OF WHEN THEY WERE A YOUNG SOLDIER, AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TYPE OF AIRPLANE THAT THEY EVER FLEW IN, SO THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS.

Huell: SO DID THEY RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT IT'S, UH... >> DC-3?

Huell: THAT IT'S A DC-3 WHEN THEY SEE IT?

>> OLDER PEOPLE DO, YEAH.

Huell: THEY CAN TELL... >> YEAH.

Huell: BECAUSE, SEE, IT-- Phil: AVIATION PEOPLE, THEY DO GENERALLY KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

Huell: YOU SEE, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE.

I MEAN, IT MAKES SENSE TO CALL IT THE SPACE SHUTTLE... >> RIGHT.

Huell: BECAUSE IT HAS THAT KIND OF A LOOK TO IT... >> RIGHT.

Huell: BUT FOR HARDCORE AVIATION BUFFS, THEY COULD SEE THE WINGS COMIN' OUT.

>> IT'S THE NOSE, THE WINDOWS.

>> THE NOSE GIVES IT AWAY AND THE WINDOWS.

>> THAT'S WHAT REALLY SHOWS IT OFF AS A DC-3.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND IF YOU KNOW AVIATION, YOU'LL--YOU'LL RECOGNIZE.

Huell: WELL, ENOUGH OF THIS STUFF OUTSIDE.

COME ON, LET'S WALK AROUND HERE 'CAUSE THIS IS INTERESTING.

WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE.

BEFORE WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE THE SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE.

AFTER YOU.

FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE, BECKY, YOU'VE KIND OF SET UP A LITTLE--THIS IS LIKE A LITTLE MINI-MUSEUM DISPLAY BACK HERE.

>> MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

IT'S, UH... ACTUALLY, THE PAMPHLETS HERE ARE FROM WHEN THE ACTUAL DC-3 WAS CONVERTED TO AN AIRLINER, AND IT FLEW FOR ALLEGHENY IN THE MIDWEST FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE, THESE ARE ORIGINAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES THAT YOU FOUND ON-- >> IN THE LUGGAGE RACKS.

WHEN PHIL TOOK THE SAWZALL TO THE LUGGAGE RACKS WHEN HE WAS GUTTING THE AIRCRAFT.

Huell: SO THESE THINGS HAD BEEN HERE SINCE IT WAS AN ALLEGHENY AIRLINER?

>> RIGHT, AND ARGONAUT, TOO, FROM MIAMI.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH, LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS--WELL, THIS IS HISTORIC.

THERE IT IS--ARGONAUT.

SO IT WAS AN ALLEGHENY AND AN ARGONAUT, AND WHAT'S ALL THIS OTHER STUFF HERE?

>> WELL, THIS IS JUST--WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE'S C-RATIONS THERE, PACKAGE OF CHESTERFIELDS FROM WORLD WAR II... Huell: MM-HMM.

>> AND THIS IS--WELL, ACTUALLY...AND THIS IS A PICTURE OF IT WHEN IT FLEW FOR ARGONAUT.

Huell: MM-HMM.

>> AND, UM... Huell: THEN YOU'VE JUST KIND OF GOT A... >> THESE, I JUST KIND OF SEGUED INTO OUR THEME ABOUT BEING THE SPACE THEME, AND I'VE COLLECTED THESE THROUGH VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, AIR SHOWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS IS NEIL ARMSTRONG WALKIN'-- Huell: AND YOU'VE GOT OLD LIFE MAGAZINES BACK HERE... >> OH, YEAH.

Huell: THAT KIND OF SHOW--YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST KIND OF PLAYIN' OFF THE SPACE THEME HERE, AREN'T YOU?

>> MM-HMM, YEAH.

Huell: KIND OF GETTIN' PEOPLE IN THE SPACE MOOD WHEN THEY WALK IN.

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: I'M FEELIN' SPACEY ALREADY.

>> [LAUGHING] I FEEL THAT WAY A LOT MYSELF.

Huell: OUR FIRST LOOK INSIDE THE FUSELAGE, AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT LOOKED WHEN IT WAS AN AIRPLANE, WHEN IT WAS AN AIRLINER.

Phil: YEAH, IT'S THE SAME SIZE.

UM, IT HAD LUGGAGE RACKS IN IT AND, OBVIOUSLY SOME SEATS THAT ARE NO LONGER HERE, BUT IT'S THE SAME SIZE AND DIMENSION AS IT WAS WHEN IT WAS AN AIRPLANE.

Huell: AND NOW YOU'VE MADE IT INTO A--WELL, THIS IS YOUR KITCHEN AND YOUR...THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE COOKIN' UP THE FOOD FOR YOUR CATERING BUSINESS.

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MINUTE BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVIN' A BIG PARTY TODAY, RIGHT?

Becky: THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WE'RE GONNA SEE THIS THING IN ACTION, BUT WE WANT TO HEAD RIGHT FOR THE--FOR THE COCKPIT BECAUSE THIS IS FASCINATING, THIS ISN'T THE ACTUAL, ORIGINAL COCKPIT, IS IT?

Phil: IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT IT IS THE ORIGINAL COCKPIT AND THE ORIGINAL SEATS, AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE ADDED A FEW THINGS LIKE STEERING WHEELS AND, UH, ENGINE INSTRUMENTS TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, BUT, UH, IT IS THE ORIGINAL COCKPIT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA BE DRIVIN' THIS THING IN JUST A MINUTE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

Huell: AND SO THIS IS--THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE WAITIN' ON IS FOR THE--THE MOMENT THAT WE ACTUALLY GET IN THIS THING AND HEAD DOWN THE ROAD, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW.

GET READY.

OK, WE'RE GETTIN' ON THE 101 FREEWAY NORTH, HEADIN' TOWARD VENTURA, COMIN' DOWN THE RAMP HERE.

PHIL, THIS IS--IT SEEMS TO RIDE A LITTLE HEAVY, A LITTLE SLUGGISH.

>> YEAH.

WE, UH, HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT IN HERE.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT WEIGHS, BUT, UH, IT IS PRETTY HEAVY, AND, UH, SO WE JUST GET ON THE ROAD AND TAKE OUR TIME AND, UH, LET EVERYBODY WATCH US AND, HOPEFULLY, GET OUT OF OUR WAY.

Huell: HA!

SO WAS THERE A LEARNING CURVE IN LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

IS IT KIND OF LIKE JUST DRIVING A BIG TRUCK?

>> IT'S LIKE DRIVING A BIG TRUCK OR A BIG MOTOR HOME.

THE ONLY REAL DIFFERENCE IS THE FRONT WHEELS ARE ABOUT 6 TO 8 FEET BEHIND THE DRIVER, SO THE TURNING RADIUS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT, UH, ONCE YOU GET USED TO THAT, AND, UH...AND YOU'RE CAREFUL, WE CAN PRETTY MUCH GO ANYWHERE.

Huell: I'M AFRAID TO ASK WHAT YOUR GAS MILEAGE IS.

I DON'T WANT TO BRING THAT UP, BUT... >> WELL, WITH GAS PRICES THE WAY THEY ARE TODAY, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE ROUGH, BUT, UH, WE...PROBABLY GET AROUND 5 MILES TO THE GALLON.

Huell: ON A GOOD DAY, 5 MILES A GALLON.

>> IF IT'S FLAT, STRAIGHT, AND LEVEL.

Huell: THIS IS ALL--THIS IS ALL YOUR AIRPLANE, UH, INSTRUMENTATION UP HERE.

YOU GOT A FEW DIALS AND THINGS OVER HERE, BUT, BASICALLY, IT'S JUST A STEERING WHEEL AND A BRAKE PEDAL AND A GAS PEDAL, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> YEP.

IT'S JUST LIKE, UH, DRIVIN' ANY OTHER KIND OF VEHICLE, UH... Huell: BUT THIS IS WHERE THE PILOTS WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTIN'.

RIGHT HERE, THESE ARE ACTUALLY WHERE THE SEATS WERE.

>> RIGHT.

THESE ARE, UH, THE ORIGINAL SEATS IN THE AIRPLANE.

UH, THEY GO UP AND DOWN, THEY TURN 90 DEGREES, AND FORWARD AND BACKWARD, BUT, UH, YEAH, THIS IS THE SAME VIEW THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD FLYING AT 20,000 FEET AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY.

Huell: NOW, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUT HERE AS FAR AS TRAFFIC IS CONCERNED?

PEOPLE START STARING AND SWERVE?

OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> PEOPLE WILL SLOW DOWN A LOT OF TIMES IN A LANE NEXT TO US TO TAKE PICTURES.

A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'LL PULL AHEAD OF US AND PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY STOP, AND THEY'LL GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND TAKE PICTURES, SO WE JUST REALLY NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF, UH, WHAT'S GOIN' ON AROUND US 'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT, UH, PEOPLE DO LOOK AT US WHEN WE'RE DRIVIN' DOWN THE ROAD.

Huell: SO HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET OUT ON THE ROAD LIKE THIS?

>> OH, 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK.

WE, UH--WE PROBABLY WORK AN AVERAGE OF 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK, AND, UH, SOMETIMES WE JUST TAKE IT OUT AND DRIVE IT.

Huell: DOES YOUR WIFE DRIVE IT?

>> NO, SHE HASN'T DRIVEN IT YET.

UH, MAYBE ONE OF THESE DAYS.

Huell: [LAUGHING] I DON'T THINK SHE'S EVER GONNA DRIVE IT.

>> WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK ME IN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO.

Huell: [LAUGHING] ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ON THE OPEN ROAD.

HOW FAST DOES THIS THING GET UP TO?

>> WELL, WE DO ABOUT 55.

WE'RE NOT USUALLY IN ANY BIG HURRY TO GET ANYWHERE.

Huell: SO YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT BREAKIN' THE SPEED LIMIT IN THIS THING?

>> NO.

WE, UH...I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER DONE THAT.

Huell: YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CD PLAYER IN HERE OR ANY SURROUND SOUND?

YOU DON'T HAVE, UH, A GPS SYSTEM?

IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

>> IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

I JUST FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO CONCENTRATE ON, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE'RE ON THE ROAD.

Huell: YEAH, JUST GETTIN' THERE.

WELL, THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING, JUST GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD IN A...

IN AN AIRPLANE.

[LAUGHING] HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS YOU THINK THERE ARE IN THE COUNTRY?

IN THE WORLD?

>> UH, DC-3s THAT ARE FLYIN'?

Huell: NO, DC-3s THAT ARE GOIN' DOWN THE FREEWAY?

>> WELL, HUELL, I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY ONE.

Huell: I'M THINKIN' OF ALL THESE SPACE SHUTTLE QUESTIONS NOW.

HOW HARD IS IT TO GET INSURANCE FOR THIS THING?

>> IT WASN'T VERY DIFFICULT AT ALL.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE, BUT, UH, WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND WE SENT THEM PICTURES OF WHAT THIS WAS, AND, UM...THE FACT THAT IT'S ON--IT'S ON A GMC BUS FRAME, SO IT'S ACTUALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT'S BEEN CERTIFIED, SO THAT WAS THE MAIN THING.

Huell: SO WHAT CATEGORY IS THIS UNDER--A BIG SUV, A BUS, WHAT?

>> UH, IT'S... Huell: WHAT IS THIS THING?

>> [LAUGHING] WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THE, UH... Huell: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT?

>> UH, I GOTTA GET OVER HERE.

Huell: DON'T HAVE A WRECK ON CAMERA.

>> NO, NO.

THE, UH...THE INSURANCE IS CARRIED AS JUST A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S UNDER ANY SPECIFIC CATEGORY OR NOT.

Huell: OK, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE VENTURA HARBOR, AND WE'RE PULLIN' UP ONTO THE GRASS HERE.

I GUESS YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YOU'RE THE 800-POUND GORILLA.

WHO'S GONNA TELL YOU NO?

HERE WE GO.

WE JUST... [RATTLING] >> WE'RE LOSIN' SOME EQUIPMENT IN HERE.

IT'S A LITTLE BUMPY, BUT WE HAVE ARRIVED...IN STYLE...IN THE SHUTTLE.

HA!

THIS IS THE CRAZIEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

[BECKY LAUGHING] BUT YOU'RE USED TO THAT, AREN'T YOU?

Becky: OH, YEAH.

WELL, WE DO SOME CRAZY THINGS, TOO.

[LAUGHING] Huell: OK, NOW WE'RE GETTIN' DOWN TO THE SERIOUS BUSINESS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE IS ALL ABOUT, ISN'T IT, BECKY?

>> YEAH, IT WAS INTENDED TO BE THIS WHEN WE HAD--WE LOOKED AT B-52 FUSELAGES AT FIRST, BUT THAT WAS WAY--NOT IN OUR...DIDN'T WORK.

Huell: YEAH, TOO BIG.

>> WAY TOO BIG.

Huell: TOO MUCH WORK.

>> AND THIS WAS PERFECT, SO... Huell: SO FROM THE VERY FIRST, YOU KIND OF SAW THIS AS A...A DIFFERENT, BIG, HUGE CATERING TRUCK?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

BECAUSE PHIL LOVES TO COOK.

HE'S HALF-ITALIAN, AND HE COOKS LIKE CRAZY AT HOME, AND HE JUST, YOU KNOW...THIS EVOLVED FROM OUR-- OUR FOOD BUSINESS FROM CARTS TO HOT DOG CARTS TO ICE CREAM CARTS TO, YOU KNOW, BOOTHS TO NOW THIS.

Huell: OH, SO THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE DONE ALL YOUR LIFE?

>> WELL, THE LAST 13 YEARS.

Huell: AND YOU'VE PROVED THEN TO NOW... >> YEAH.

Huell: THIS IS ABOUT AS...I THINK THIS IS ABOUT AS FAR AS YOU SHOULD GO.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO, TOO.

Huell: NOW, WHERE DO YOU GO?

WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU ALL DO?

>> WE DID, UM...LAST WEEK, WE DID A MULTICULTURAL EVENT AT A COLLEGE IN OXNARD, AND WE SERVED STUDENTS THAT WERE BUSSED IN TO BE INTERVIEWED, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GET A LOOK AT OXNARD COLLEGE TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO ATTEND THERE.

Huell: BUT YOU DO FAIRS, YOU DO... >> NO, WE DON'T NECESSARILY DO FAIRS, NOT YET, BUT WE DO AIR SHOWS.

AIR SHOWS ARE GREAT.

Huell: OH, YEAH, IT'D BE PERFECT FOR AN AIR SHOW.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, AND CAR SHOWS.

ANYTHING--WE'RE DOING A THING WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON THIS MONTH.

ANYBODY THAT LIKES BIG ENGINES LOVES THIS THING.

I MEAN... Huell: YEAH, DO YOU LET 'EM COME INSIDE LIKE WE ARE?

>> WHEN WE'RE NOT--WHEN WE'RE NOT COOKING, WHEN THERE'S NOT A LARGE CROWD, WE DO.

WE LET KIDS COME, OR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO TAKE PICTURES IN THE COCKPIT, WE LET THEM UP FRONT, AND WE TAKE PICTURES OF THEM.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS--THIS IS KIND OF FUN IN HERE.

YOU LOVE THIS.

>> UH, THERE'S REALLY NO PLACE ELSE I'D RATHER BE.

I JUST ENJOY COOKIN'.

I ENJOY FEEDIN' PEOPLE, AND, UH, WE LOVE AIRPLANES, SO.

UH... >> YEAH.

Huell: WHAT AN INTERESTING COMBINATION.

>> YEAH.

WELL, IT STARTED WITH US--PHIL BUILDING HIS OWN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT, AND WE BELONGED TO THE EAA CHAPTER OUT IN CAMARILLO, AND THEY HAD A LITTLE FLY-IN.

EVERYBODY'D FLY IN THEIR EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT, AND IT WAS PROBABLY 25, 30 PLANES, AND THEY HAD STARTED HAVING A PANCAKE BREAKFAST, AND WE VOLUNTEERED TO FLIP PANCAKES, AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT INTO THE FOOD BUSINESS.

[LAUGHING] Huell: THROUGH THE AIRPLANE.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

Huell: SO PHIL BUILT AN AIRPLANE?

>> HE BUILT A LONG EZ AIRPLANE, A BURT RUTAN DESIGN.

Huell: SO ALL OF THIS KIND OF TIES TOGETHER, DOESN'T IT?

YOUR LOVE OF PLANES, YOUR LOVE OF FOOD AND COOKING, AND YOUR LOVE OF, I GUESS, JUST KIND OF DOING, PLAYING LIFE BY YOUR OWN RULES AND KIND OF MARCHIN' TO THE BEAT OF YOUR OWN DRUMMER.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

>> YEAH, I--BEFORE I MET PHIL, I WAS SELF-EMPLOYED SINCE I WAS 22, AND THEN HE BECAME SELF-EMPLOYED 6 MONTHS AFTER WE GOT MARRIED 24 YEARS AGO, SO...

HE'S THE MAIN MAN, THOUGH.

HE'S TAKEN OVER THE KITCHEN.

[LAUGHING] HE EVEN BAKES CAKES AND WONDERFUL DESSERTS.

IT'S AMAZING.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS EVERY INTERESTING.

WE'RE GONNA EAT NOW IN A MINUTE, AREN'T WE?

>> YEAH, WE ARE.

Huell: IT'S ALWAYS HEADIN' FOR A CONCLUSION.

Phil: WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME BURGERS AND FRIES AND HOT DOGS AND CHICKEN SANDWICHES, AND WE'RE GONNA BUILD OUR OWN BURGERS HERE, AND, UH...BACON, AVOCADO, A LITTLE MUSHROOM, HOWEVER YOU LIKE IT, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT.

Huell: OK, IT'S LUNCHTIME HERE AT THE SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE, AND A BEAUTIFUL END TO A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

COME ON OVER HERE, PETERSEN FAMILY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN US ALL AN AMAZING ADVENTURE TODAY.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT YOU GET TO RIDE IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

Huell: YOU ISSUED THE INVITATION, YOU KNEW I WAS GONNA ACCEPT IT.

>> WELL, YEAH, KIND OF.

>> WE COULD ONLY HOPE.

>> WE COULD ONLY HOPE.

Huell: YOU KNEW WHEN YOU SENT ME THE PICTURES OF THIS THING THAT YOU'D HOOK ME IN.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DO--YOU DO LIKE INTERESTING THINGS.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS IS THE MOST UNUSUAL THING I THINK I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN A LONG TIME.

BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY BEHIND IT.

WHAT A WONDERFUL PIECE OF HISTORY, AND ALSO, HOW YOU ALL HAVE INCORPORATED IT INTO YOUR LIVES.

THIS IS--THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A CONVERSATION PIECE.

THIS IS--THIS IS WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO.

>> IT'S A BIG PART OF OUR LIFE.

IT'S OUR BUSINESS, UH, THAT WE ENJOY VERY MUCH, AND, UH, IT'S FUN.

Huell: YEAH.

IT'S YOUR LOVE, TOO, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS.

Huell: YOU HAVE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS WITH THIS THING, JUST LIKE WITH A KID?

>> YEAH.

[LAUGHING] YES.

>> BUSINESS IS BUSINESS.

Huell: YEAH, BUT THIS IS A GOOD DAY.

>> WE HAVE NO KIDS.

WE HAVE DOGS AND CATS.

>> THIS IS A GREAT DAY.

Huell: YOU HAVE A BIG KID RIGHT HERE.

>> THIS IS A BIG, BIG, HIGH- MAINTENANCE KID, YEAH.

Huell: WELL, WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMIN' OUT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT ALL YOUR FRIENDS HERE.

EVERYBODY GIVE US A WAVE.

EVERYBODY'S EATIN' HOMEMADE HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS THAT YOU MADE YOURSELF RIGHT INSIDE THERE.

WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY, AND EVERYBODY OUT THERE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT BECAUSE YOU'RE OUT ROAMIN' AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THIS THING, AREN'T YOU?

>> YEAH, WE ARE.

WE DO, UH...

ANYWHERE THERE'S FOOD AND PEOPLE WANT TO EAT, WE CAN BE THERE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, AND WHEN YOU SEE 'EM ON THE FREEWAY, HONK AND WAVE, BUT TRY NOT TO WRECK YOUR CAR.

[LAUGHING] 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK YOUR INSURANCE COVERS ANYTHING ANYBODY ELSE DOES, DOES IT?

>> YEAH.

>> OH, YEAH, WE'RE COVERED.

>> WE JUST DON'T WANT THAT.

Huell: WE'RE ALL COVERED ON THIS WONDERFUL DAY OUT HERE.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S STEP OUT OF THE WAY AND JUST GET A SHOT OF ALL YOUR HAPPY FRIENDS OUT THERE, EATIN' ALL THIS GOOD FOOD BY THE SPACE SHUTTLE CAFE.

THAT'S BEEN OUR DAY, RIDIN' THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

GIVE US A WAVE.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...