Media is invited this afternoon to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to witness the first of what city officials hope will be thousands of more cargo flights from China.
The China Cargo Airlines jet is scheduled to land at 4 p.m. The governor, local officials and a delegation from the Civil Aviation Administration of China will be on hand for remarks and a ribbon cutting.
Meanwhile, the $360 million in public funding that backers of the St. Louis Aerotropolis (a.k.a. "China Hub") say they need get the project off the ground remains stalled in the state legislature. Moreover, critics say the China Hub will never work, no matter how much money is thrown its way.
That's why Daily RFT has named Hervé Villechaize (a.k.a. Tattoo from Fantasy Island) the "official mascot" of today's ceremonies at the airport. Sadly, Mr. Villechaize committed suicide soon in 1993 (life wasn't a tropical island for him), but his ghost plans to be there, welcoming China Cargo Airline's Boeing 777 with his infectious: "Dee plane! Dee plane!"
'Cause, you know, at this point it seems like only Tattoo and Mr. Rourke (RIP, Ricardo Montablan) can turn this fantasy into reality.
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