Honored For "Innovation In Aviation Sarcasm"

ANN APRIL 1st "SPECIAL" EDITION: He's been in print for over 30 years, online for the past 10, and he's even been to space... and now, Aviation's Only Ant has received a truly plus-sized honor.

"You're freakin' kidding me."

With that admonition, ANN's very own resident cartoonist Wes Oleszewski learned that he -- sort of -- was the recipient of the 2008 Collier Award from the National Aeronautic Association, in recognition of "twice-a-week contributions to elevate the art of discourse, commentary, and in particular dripping sarcasm in the field of aviation."

But Oleszewski won't see his own name on the trophy. "The award is in the name of Klyde Morris," Oleszewski sighed. "I tried to explain to the NAA that Klyde wasn't an actual ant, just a creation from the mind's eye of a slightly warped cartoonist with an admittedly odd fondness for ants, and who's never flown a single hour in his life that wasn't part of a job or training requirement... but the NAA wouldn't hear it. Or maybe they ran out of room on the name plaque."

Oleszewski said he also had some difficulty in being invited to the awards ceremony. "Finally, they let me have a ticket to the awards presentation -- I'm the "plus one" to my own creation, my high school guidance counselor would be so proud -- and I'm supposed to pick up the award in Klyde's name. I was afraid I'd have to tell them Klyde would be out of town on a charter run, or else they wouldn't even let me in the door."

With the honor, the cartoon ant joins the distinguished ranks of esteemed past Collier winners... including the team behind the B-1 bomber, the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, and 2005 award winner Eclipse Aviation.

FMI: www.naa.aero, www.klydemorris.com