Minnesota Fun Fact
Minnesota is the largest producer of turkeys in the United States
Departure Airport: Wayne Executive Jetport (GWW/KGWW)
Arrival Airport: Joint Base Andrews (ADW/KADW)
Aircraft: TBM930
Flight Time: 1:32
Server: Expert
Some context:
Every year, America celebrates Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November. One of the quintessential aspects of this holiday is turkey - and a lot of it. Approximately 46 million birds are consumed across the country, which accounts for 1/5th of the national turkey consumption annually. Two turkeys find themselves in a lucky position - every year since the Presidency of George H.W. Bush (there have even been instances of a similar tradition dating back to Abraham Lincoln), two birds are issued a presidential “pardon,” preventing them from being slaughtered. Two turkeys are selected from across the country by the National Turkey Federation. Since the start of this tradition, the most pardoned turkeys have come from Minnesota, followed by North Carolina (where this year’s lucky fowl are from).
I’m sure in real life the turkeys are loaded onto a truck and Brought up to Washington, D.C. for this presidential pardon, but I decided that this year’s turkeys (named Gooble & Waddle by a poll on X by the First Lady) from Nahunta Community Farm in Nahunta, North Carolina will receive a special flight right to Joint Base Andrews. Here they are being loaded onto the TBM930 after being transported from the farm in a Secret Service motorcade for their protection.
Climbing out over Goldsboro, North Carolina (not to be confused with Greensboro)
At cruise, the turkeys received a special meal of earthworms and crabapples (does’t sound all too appetizing to me, but apparently that’s what turkeys enjoy)
The crew asked the turkeys to be seated over Norfolk due to some expected rough air, but they didn’t seem to care
We began our descent over Chesapeake Bay
On base over the suburban sprawl of Maryland
Welcome to Joint Base Andrews!
Our very important passengers were loaded into another Secret Service convoy to be brought directly to the White House
