Unearth The Voyage
There is a restaurant in Colorado Springs where you do not just sit down for a burger and fries. You board a real aircraft, slide into a booth inside the fuselage, and order your meal while surrounded by cockpit instruments, aviation memorabilia, and the unmistakable hum of history.
The place has earned over 3,900 reviews and a loyal following that keeps coming back, some guests even visiting twice in the same weekend. By the time you finish reading, you will want to book a table, or rather, a seat, on this one-of-a-kind flying diner.
Where to Find This High-Flying Eatery
The address is 1665 Newport Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916, and the moment you pull into the parking lot, a full-sized Boeing KC-97 tanker aircraft greets you like a very oversized, very immovable front yard decoration.
The restaurant sits near the Colorado Springs Airport, which makes the whole aviation theme feel even more fitting. You are not just near a plane, you are about to eat inside one.
The surrounding area is straightforward and easy to reach, with plenty of parking and clear signage. It is not in the heart of downtown, but that slight detour is absolutely worth every mile.
Interestingly, visitors coming from as far as Oklahoma have made this a planned stop on road trips through the Southwest. The spot is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
You can reach them at 719-570-7656 or visit theairplanerestaurant.com to plan your visit. First-timers and aviation fans alike tend to linger longer than they expected.
The Story Behind the Boeing KC-97
Not every restaurant can say its dining room once refueled military jets at 30,000 feet, but this one can. The aircraft parked outside and converted into a dining space is a genuine Boeing KC-97, a tanker plane that served with the United States Air Force and later with the Texas Air National Guard.
The owner has shared stories of the effort it took to bring this massive aircraft to its current resting spot in Colorado Springs. Getting a plane of that size onto a restaurant property is no small logistical feat, and the dedication behind that effort shows in every detail of the space.
The KC-97 was built in the late 1940s and early 1950s, making it a true relic of post-World War II aviation history. Guests who appreciate military history will find the context especially meaningful.
Families traveling from places like Oklahoma or other parts of the country often visit the nearby National Museum of World War II Aviation the same day, making this a natural and satisfying pairing. The plane is not a prop or a replica.
It is the real thing, and that authenticity is what sets this experience apart from anything else.
Dining Inside the Fuselage
Eating inside the fuselage of a real aircraft is one of those experiences that sounds unusual until you are actually doing it, and then it feels completely natural in the best possible way. The booths are arranged along both sides of the narrow cabin, and the curved ceiling overhead gives the whole space an intimate, enclosed feeling.
The seating is cozy, which means you might catch snippets of the conversation from the next booth over if the restaurant is busy. Most guests seem to find that part charming rather than bothersome, adding to the communal, adventure-like atmosphere.
Servers dressed in aircraft crew uniforms move efficiently through the tight aisle, delivering plates with a smile that matches the theme perfectly. The whole setup leans fully into the aviation world without feeling gimmicky or forced.
Families with young children especially enjoy the novelty of eating in an actual plane, and the excitement on kids faces when they realize where they are sitting is genuinely entertaining to watch. Guests who have traveled from Oklahoma and other distant states consistently mention that dining inside the fuselage was the highlight of their entire Colorado Springs trip, and it is easy to understand why.
The Cockpit Experience
Few restaurants offer their guests a chance to sit in the cockpit of a World War II-era aircraft, but this one does, and it never gets old. The cockpit has been preserved with its original instruments, gauges, and controls fully intact, giving it the feel of a miniature aviation museum rather than a simple photo opportunity.
Kids absolutely lose their minds over it. Being able to grip the controls and pretend to steer a massive military aircraft is the kind of hands-on history lesson that no classroom can replicate.
Adults tend to linger there too, turning dials and studying the instrument panel with the quiet fascination of someone who did not expect to feel this moved by a bunch of old switches and levers. The staff encourages guests to explore the cockpit freely, whether they are seated inside the plane or in the main dining room.
The hostess often shares a brief history of the aircraft during the walk to your table, which adds helpful context before you start poking around the controls. Whether you are a seasoned aviation enthusiast or someone who has never given planes much thought, the cockpit has a way of making everyone feel like a pilot, at least for a few fun minutes.
Aviation Memorabilia Throughout the Space
Long before your food arrives, there is plenty to look at. The walls of both the main dining room and the plane itself are covered in aviation photographs, model aircraft, vintage posters, and military artifacts that could easily keep a curious guest occupied for an entire afternoon.
The collection feels curated and personal rather than mass-produced, as if each piece was chosen because it actually meant something to someone. There is a warmth to the display that a generic themed restaurant simply cannot manufacture.
Plane models hang from the ceiling, framed photographs document aviation milestones, and life-sized items are scattered throughout the space in ways that consistently surprise first-time visitors. The overall effect is somewhere between a classic American diner and a serious aviation museum.
The owner has clearly invested not just money but genuine passion into building this collection over the years. Guests who visit from Oklahoma or other states far from Colorado often comment that the memorabilia alone justifies the trip, even before the food is factored in.
Children and adults alike find themselves pausing mid-conversation to point out something new they spotted on the wall, and that sense of ongoing discovery gives the restaurant a lively, energetic atmosphere that feels different from a standard dining experience.
The Menu and Food Quality
The food here is honest, satisfying American cooking that holds its own even without the novelty of the setting. The menu covers classic territory with burgers, steaks, sandwiches, fish and chips, pasta, and quesadillas, all prepared with enough care that guests return specifically for the food and not just the atmosphere.
The BBQ Bomber Burger is one of the most talked-about items, arriving stacked and flavorful with a combination that earns its name. The Guacamole Burger and the Top Sirloin are also popular choices, and the steak is consistently cooked to the requested temperature, which is never a guarantee at casual dining spots.
The fries deserve their own paragraph. They are thicker than standard fries, closer to a well-fried potato slice, and they arrive golden and crispy in a way that makes them genuinely memorable.
The baked spaghetti, loaded with peppers, onions, and sausage, is another standout worth ordering.
Portion sizes are generous, and many guests end up taking food home. Prices sit comfortably in the mid-range, making the overall value feel strong for what you receive.
The kids menu is also well-regarded, with options that go beyond the usual uninspired children’s fare.
Bison Options and Unique Menu Highlights
One of the more unexpected and delightful surprises on the menu is the selection of bison dishes, which gives the restaurant a distinctly Colorado personality that sets it apart from standard American diners. Bison options include a Reuben made with corned bison, which sounds unusual until you try it and realize it is genuinely excellent.
Bison is leaner than beef but still rich in flavor, and the kitchen handles it well enough that even guests who have never tried it before tend to order it again on a return visit. Colorado has a long history with bison, and seeing it featured so prominently on the menu feels like a respectful nod to that heritage.
Beyond the bison, the menu also features a steak and shrimp special that has received consistent praise for its quality and reasonable price point. The fish and chips arrive flaky and well-seasoned, and the Philly cheesesteak is satisfying in a no-frills, classic way.
For those with a sweet tooth, the dessert selection is worth saving room for. Guests traveling from Oklahoma and other states have specifically mentioned the desserts as a pleasant finishing touch to an already memorable meal.
The menu has enough variety to satisfy a table with completely different tastes.
Service and the Crew Uniform Experience
The staff at this restaurant lean into the aviation theme with real enthusiasm, and the crew uniforms worn by the servers and hosts are a big part of what makes the experience feel immersive rather than just decorative. From the moment the hostess greets you at the entrance, the tone is set for something a little more theatrical than a typical lunch stop.
The hostess often provides a brief overview of the aircraft and the restaurant’s history as she walks guests to their seats, which is a thoughtful touch that adds genuine educational value to the visit. It makes the whole experience feel like an event rather than just a meal.
Service quality has been described as warm and attentive by the majority of guests, with several servers standing out for their friendliness and professionalism even during busy periods. The owner has also been spotted on the floor greeting guests and sharing stories about the plane, which speaks to the personal investment behind the whole operation.
On busier nights, the kitchen can fall a little behind, but the staff handles those moments with transparency and good humor. The overall service culture here feels genuine, and that human warmth is something no aviation theme can manufacture on its own.
The Main Dining Room and Its Fireplaces
Not everyone wants to squeeze into the narrow fuselage of a 1950s tanker plane for dinner, and the main dining room offers a genuinely appealing alternative. The space is warm, comfortable, and filled with the same aviation memorabilia that covers the walls throughout the restaurant, so you still feel fully immersed in the theme.
Two fireplaces anchor the room with a cozy, inviting energy that makes the dining room especially appealing during cooler Colorado evenings. The combination of aviation history on the walls and crackling fires below creates a surprisingly pleasant contrast that guests often describe as charming.
The seating in the main room is more spacious than inside the plane, which makes it a better choice for larger groups, families with strollers, or anyone who simply prefers a bit more elbow room with their meal. One wing of the actual aircraft extends into the dining room, connecting the two spaces in a visually interesting way.
Even guests who specifically requested plane seating have admitted that the main dining room won them over on a second visit. The space manages to feel both casual and special at the same time, which is a balance that many restaurants aim for and few actually achieve.
The Restroom Sound Effects
Every great themed restaurant needs at least one detail that catches guests completely off guard, and this one delivers it in the most unexpected place possible. The restrooms at this restaurant play loud airplane engine sounds, and the effect is so realistic and so sudden that first-time visitors consistently come back to their tables laughing.
It is the kind of quirky, committed detail that shows the owners thought about the theme from floor to ceiling, or in this case, from cockpit to bathroom. Most guests describe the moment as genuinely funny rather than annoying, and it tends to become one of the most talked-about highlights of the visit.
Children find it particularly hilarious, and more than a few parents have reported that their kids requested multiple bathroom trips just to experience the sound again. The detail also works as a great conversation starter at the table, especially for groups who stagger their restroom visits and get to watch each other’s surprised reactions.
Small touches like this are what separate a restaurant with a theme from a restaurant that truly lives its theme. The effort to carry the aviation experience into every corner of the building, including the most private ones, reflects a level of creative commitment that guests genuinely appreciate and remember long after they leave.
Kid-Friendly Atmosphere and Family Appeal
Few restaurants manage to genuinely entertain children from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave, but this one pulls it off with consistency. The combination of a real aircraft, an open cockpit, aviation artifacts on every wall, and servers in uniform creates an environment where kids are naturally engaged without needing a screen or a toy.
Parents traveling with young children have noted that the cockpit visit alone can occupy a small group of kids for a solid stretch of time, giving adults a few peaceful moments to actually enjoy their meals. The staff is patient and welcoming with families, and the kids menu offers solid options beyond the standard chicken fingers and plain pasta routine.
That said, families with infants or toddlers in high chairs may find the narrow aisle inside the plane a bit tight for strollers and bulky baby gear. The main dining room is a smarter choice for those situations, and kids can still visit the cockpit from there.
Guests who have driven in from Oklahoma and other states specifically for a family outing have described this as one of the most memorable meals their children have ever had. When a restaurant makes a kid feel like they are on an actual adventure, the whole family wins.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit
A few practical notes can make a real difference between a good visit and a great one. First, ask to be seated inside the plane when you make your reservation or arrive, because those seats fill up quickly, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings when the restaurant stays open until 9 PM.
Arriving early on a weekend gives you the best chance of securing a fuselage booth without a long wait. The restaurant does get busy, and the wait is generally considered worth it, but a little planning goes a long way toward a smoother experience.
If you are visiting Colorado Springs and plan to stop at the nearby National Museum of World War II Aviation, combining both into a single day creates a genuinely satisfying aviation-themed itinerary. Several guests, including those driving up from Oklahoma, have done exactly that and found the pairing to be a highlight of their entire trip.
Ask your server about daily specials, and do not skip the fries. Cholula hot sauce is available on request if you like a little heat with your meal.
The restaurant phone number is 719-570-7656 if you want to call ahead. Most importantly, slow down and look around, because the details covering every wall are worth your full attention.
