ANSWER PAGE

Q. I understand that an airplane parked near the Flying Tigers air freight service at D/FW airport was the same plane used by The Rolling Stones during their recent U.S. tour. The plane is painted red, white and blue and has the confederate flag on the back. Is this true? P.D., Irving.

A. As far as we know, The Rolling Stones never used the aircraft. The plane was originally owned by Eastern Airlines and was purchased by Overseas National Airways (ONA) during the early Seventies. ONA employees decorated the plane in patriotic colors for the U.S. Bicentennial. The plane was later sold to an Indianapolis touring group, which sold it to a private group called Texas Air Carriers. Although we couldn’t reach anyone from the Indianapolis group, no one from ONA or Texas Air Carriers can remember The Stones using the aircraft. Currently, the plane is being used by Texas Air Carriers for private charters. A new international organization called VEL airlines is planning to use the plane for public charters for vacation travel.

Q. I’ve noticed a sign adjacent to Baylor Hospital on Gaston Avenue that reads “Health Special.” What does it mean? W.F., Dallas.

A. The Health Special is part of the DISD magnet school system. The purpose of the school is to educate the district’s pregnant high school students. The facility has been in operation 12 years at various locations; five years ago it was moved to the Gaston location. The Health Special has been under the jurisdiction of Health Magnet Principal Bruce Norman for less than a year. Approximately 450 girls attend the school during an average year. Pregnant students in the district have the choice of staying at their school or transferring to the Health Special during their pregnancies. Services designed especially for pregnant women, such as child development and prenatal care are offered.

Q. Rumor has it that when The Who performed in Dallas in early December, the group stopped by Confetti for a late-night gig. Well? G.K., University Park.

A. As is usually the case, rumor was only partially correct. The Who did not perform at Confetti, and after the show Pete Town-shend and the group put on in the Cotton Bowl, we really can’t blame them. Nonetheless, Confetti management assures us that a couple of Who members appeared at the upper Greenville club after the show for a bit of fun. But The Who didn’t stop there. On the following Sunday night, a few band members were honored at a party at Nostromo, given by the club and Dallasite Jack Calmes. The party was not closed to the public, but the event was kept secret.

Q. Each time I drive downtown, I notice that construction workers have blocked off lanes of traffic. Do they need permission from the city to do this or can they block lanes wherever and whenever they choose? L.B., Richardson.

A.Contractors must obtain an ordinance from the city before blocking off lanes of traffic. A spokesman for the Office of Transportation, which grants the ordinances, says each case is evaluated individually based on the effect it will have on the existing street system, alternate routes and other projects nearby. If one lane is already blocked off, a contractor probably won’t be able to receive use of a lane on the other side of the street. And when a lane is granted for use, the contractor has permission to use it only for the duration of his project.

Q. I recently took a cab from D/FW airport and began wondering about the accuracy of the meter. Are Dallas’ taxi meters ever checked to ensure that they don’t cheat passengers? R.Z., Dallas.

A. The meters in the 900 or so Dallas taxicabs are checked regularly by the Office of Weights and Measures with a dynamometer, a set of rollers with a measuring device. Each meter is checked at least once a year. Meters also must be inspected if there is a rate increase or if someone lodges a complaint against a cab driver. If a fare is found to be incorrect, the meter is tagged as out-of-order and can’t be used again until it’s repaired. During a recent check of 274 meters, 46.7 percent were correct, 6.1 percent favored the customer and 47.2 percent favored the cab company.