TAKING WING AT AIRPORT

Killing time at the airport. What air traveler has not had to do it? A delayed flight, a poorly timed arrival, a layover--these hazards disrupt a precisely planned schedule.

Here are a few ideas if you find yourself with time on your hands at John Wayne Airport, which is tucked between Irvine, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Our imaginary traveler is stuck for three hours, midday, but, of course, actual times will vary.

1 to 1:30: The first thing I do when I have extra time on my hands is look around for something to read. Paradie’s Shop--a newsstand and gift shop on the upper level of Terminal B--has the widest selection. There’s a wall of paperbacks and another of magazines. There are a few hardcover books and newspapers as well.

Paradie’s also has some interesting California souvenirs: Raiders and Rams T-shirts and caps, a Beverly Hills shirt and another from Newport Beach. There’s a Napa Valley tote and a John Wayne Airport shirt, too, the latter with a black-and-white likeness of the Duke.

Orange County’s mascot, Mickey Mouse, has his share of memorabilia in stock, too.

1:30 to 2:30: There are several chain restaurants in the airport, including McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, TCBY yogurt shop and Mrs. Fields Cookies. I decided to check out the Orange Grille, an unknown.

The food is standard American fare: fried appetizers, burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and salads. It’s a good, hot meal, but not exceptional. Prices run $6.95 for an Oriental chicken salad and about $5.50 for a burger.

For $8.75, I had both the chicken gumbo, which was flavorful and filled with vegetables, and the Pesto Pesto grilled chicken sandwich with Dijon mustard, a lunch I recommend.

2:30 to 3: Next, grab a cappuccino ($1.99) at Creative Croissants and head down to the lower level. At the juncture of terminals A and B is a nine-foot statue of John Wayne. Larger-than-life is the way it should be when you’re depicting one of Orange County’s greatest legends.

Wayne lived in Newport Beach until his death in 1979. The statue was erected three years later, and the airport changed its name from Orange County Airport.

The statue was copper for many years but was beginning to wear and fade and turn green. In 1990, the airport had the statue shipped to Texas, where it was bronzed and colorized--in browns, beiges and reds. The refinished version was erected to coincide with the opening of the new airport terminal, Terminal B, also known as the Thomas F. Riley Terminal.

3 to 3:30: Back upstairs, on the upper level in Terminal B, is a wall reserved by the John Wayne Airport Arts Commission. At the moment, the wall holds 66 drawings by Orange County youngsters--from kindergarten through grade 12.

The drawings were chosen from among 1,200 entries; “Friends and Neighbors” is the theme.

My favorite was a picture of a little girl saying goodby to E.T., drawn by kindergartner Ashley Ynzunza of Mission Viejo.

3:30 to 4: No airport loitering would be complete without the sight of airplanes leaving the runway. I found that the best spot for plane watching is at the far end of Terminal B, near Gate 1A.

1. Paradie’s Shop; Upper level, Terminal B.; (714) 252-6140. Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2. The Orange Grille at John Wayne Airport; J.W. Food Court, Upper level, Terminal A (714) 252-6110. Sunday through Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 3. Creative Croissants; Upper level, Terminal B., (714) 252-1040 Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. 4. The John Wayne statue; Lower level, in a glassed in area connecting Terminals A and B. 5. John Wayne Airport Arts Commission display; Upper level, Terminal B. 6. Prime takeoff-watching spot; Upper level, Terminal B in the vicinity of Gate 1A.