Race Street's newest venture had been the most daring yet; not to mention largest and most expensive.  When the military abandoned the ship yard at Hog Island, a massive amount of land went untouched for some time.  Finally, the city of Philadelphia purchased the land with intentions to build an expansion to the Philadelphia Municipal Airport. Of course, the city soon ran out of money.  Race Street, however, had not.

Race Street had everything- The Pier was always bustling, and Purgatory operated profitable businesses throughout the district; but Joe Adonis had his head in the clouds. He approached Dons Jack Mezzo and Willam Bowden with an idea that would take Race Street to new heights- literally.  Within a few weeks, the plans for Midas Air were in the works.  Enlisting the help of Arturo Strigliori and Ilaria Santoro, Adonis was making a bold step into commercial aviation for the Race Street Operation.  

It had taken very little time for Adonis to secure the purchase of a section of the Southern portion of the Hog Island expansion for his operation.  The city, being so strapped for cash, practically had no choice as Joe's cash offer would pay for the much needed dredging of the Northern side of the island.  The deal was made, and construction began immediately.  

Three large, state-of-the-art hangars were constructed on the property, along with an operations center.  The hangars all had access to the existing runways of the Philadelphia Municipal Airport via a newly constructed ramp.  With Ilaria's military background and contacts, they were easily able to acquire passenger and cargo aircraft.  The Midas Air fleet would include:

2 Douglas DC-3 passenger planes
1 Douglas DC-3 Medical Air Unit
2 Stinson Model A passenger planes
2 Boeing 247 passenger liners
1 Boeing 247 private aircraft for company use
4 General Aviation GA-43 craft for nationwide mail and cargo delivery

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The pilot brought the brand-new Boeing 247 down to a landing on runway 3.  It was as smooth of a landing as one could expect on an airstrip that was unpaved.  From the windows, the three passengers could see all three of the newly-completed hangars shining in the morning sun. As the plane taxied off the runway, they could see the ramp lined with people cheering and waving scarves and handkerchiefs in the air.  Children had blue and gold balloons and stood in awe at the huge, flying machine.  The plane came to a stop and a crew pushed a set of metal air stairs decorated with balloons and streamers up to the door for the distinguished passengers to deplane.

Ilaria Santoro was the first to step off the plane. She paused just outside the door, a breeze gently rustling the hem of her royal blue dress that she'd chosen for the occasion. Months of work had gone into making Midas Air come to life, and the realization of Joe's dream made her heart sing.

Across the tarmac, Ilaria could see the entire Midas Air fleet lined up along the ramp in front of the hangars. Each aircraft was completely ready, with the Midas Air logo on the tail.  Once the festivities began, visitors would be able to walk right inside the planes and look around. 

Right in the middle sat her "baby," the Douglas DC-3 Medical Air Transport Unit, or "MAT-U" as it had come to be called.  Every detail of the aircraft's interior had been designed by Ilaria; inspired by her uncomfortable journey home from Italy after the train bombing. For days after, she'd been thinking that there must be a better way to transport patients by air.  When Joe had approached her about the airline idea, Ilaria was happy to agree, provided she could have a little project of her own.

 The DC-3 had been stripped of its seats and fully remodeled inside the cabin.  Now, the plane was the closest thing to a flying hospital modern medicine had ever seen.  There were four cots running along the sides of the cabins, each with two hooks to accommodate IV bottles. Under each cot was a pull-out drawer for supplies that could be locked when not being used. Two steel chests were secured fore and aft in the cabin. The aircraft was large enough for two flight crew members, one medical professional, and one other passenger outside of the four cots. At the door of the MAT-U, there were a row of hooks that held equipment for parachute and basket rescues.

The crowd below was waving and cheering wildly.  Ilaria smiled wide and waved back, spotting a few friends in the crowd.  Before walking down the air stair, she glanced back and flashed Arturo and Joe a big smile.

Arturo despised planes. The windows were too small. Everything rattled when they took off. It got really cold too. Terrible environment for brainstorming new dishes  to serve in Breads and Spreads. He was going to keep open Breads and Spreads on the Race Street Pier and open up a new, smaller-sized lounge and restaurant for business in the airport. Less for money's sake, mostly for serving members of the newest arm of the Race Street operation and travelers.

But planes... They were majestic when they took off, the sheer power. Arturo just wasn't a fan of being inside of them when that happened. Of course, he had previously traveled to Europe and around and about, but he could tolerate that for the greater good of his future customers. It was for the sake of knowledge!

Arturo followed Illaria and Joe out of the plane, putting on a pair of nice looking sunglasses he had bought from a shop over in Las Vegas. It was an ambitious project, Arturo thought to himself, but hopefully worth it in the end. As for today, he was excited. This sort of opportunity didn't show its head often. Arturo hoped a fresh change of pace would be able to teach him some new things.

Magickal. Inspiring. Daring. Ambitious. Spirited. These words were engraved on the back of two metallic Midas Air logos which were attached to two keyrings. Joe Adonis handed one each to Ilaria and Arturo as they huddled at the bottom of the air stairs. They contained the master keys to the their headquarters within the airport.

Joe shook Arturo's hand firmly as he handed him his set, then gave Major Ilaria a wide blue eyed smile and a salute after handing over hers. The words etched into the company logo were the Midas Air values. They inscribed exactly what it was that exemplified the brand and what would be the driving force of what was to come.

With a nod, Joe then turned and began the walk towards the lounge area. The three walked side by side, laughing and joking, as well wishing citizens waved them on who were none the wiser that today wasn't just about the Philadelphia Municipal Airport's first official airplane landing on its tarmac, effectively breaking it in.

To Joe Adonis, it was about the story yet to touch down. They were here to make a statement. To let the country know they meant business. That they weren't here to be just another family blowing in the wind. They were here to take over the airfields and run so much drugs through this mother fucker of a country that when someone went to snort a line, Midas' Golden Touch was there.

After the day's events came to pass and the night took over, they'd drink the rest of it away in the lounge area with other Race Street Company members. Some stayed, some just passed through but all were warmly welcomed. As that was what South Philly truly was, one unit under the stars. And if the winds of fortune blew right, Midas Air would take off out of the stratosphere to reach them.