When KCI Aviation was still doing business at the North Central West Virginia Airport, one of the things that brough joy to owner Chuck Koukoulis was watching planes coming and going at the Bridgeport facility.

 

Since KCI Aviation moved two years ago to the old AFG Glass Plant site just inside of Taylor County, it is one of the things he misses most. Despite not seeing the planes any more on a regular basis, he still is quick to be able to identify one.

 

Such was the case Wednesday, as Koukoulis was able to identify another United States military plane doing touch and go exercises at the NCWV Airport. For the second time, this year the Navy was the branch doing the honors.

 

In March, a Navy Boeing 737 was doing exercises and circling the skies around Bridgeport. Yesterday, it was one unique aircraft that drew spectators around the airport’s perimeter fence and inquiries to media outlets.

 

“That’s a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye,” said Koukoulis when reviewing a photo of the Navy plane overhead in Bridgeport. “They can operate from a lot of places, including aircraft carriers.”

 

NCWV Airport Deputy Director Shawn Long confirmed the same type of plane that Koukoulis did.

 

One individual along the fence line thought it was an AWAC craft, but felt it was too small to be the case as they are seen on planes such as a 747. Koukoulis, however, said the plane operates an AWAC (Airborne Early Warning and Control) system, which can be done on various sizes of aircraft.

 

“The big disc on top is some sort of antennae that serves as a communication platform,” said Koukoulis. The tailfeathers, as they’re called, has the extra vertical stabilizers, which compensates for the big disc. I believe this plane, or perhaps a deviation, of a submarine hunter off the carriers.”

 

The information came freely from Koukoulis who readily admitted he would have liked to have seen it as he did for decades from his office by the runway. The Koukoulis family did business at the facility for 68 years before leaving two years prior.

 

“We’re still doing pretty well with 35 employees and have held on pretty well with revenues being steady and no one has had to be laid off or take pay cuts during (the pandemic),” said Koukoulis. “That’s definitely a positive but seeing this reminds me that I miss seeing my airplanes bad – and I’ve seen just about everything that came through there.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye in Bridgeport, while Chuck Koukoulis is shown below after being named to the 2019 State Aviation Hall of Fame Class.