One of our PBB subscribers alerted us today to a rather strange marketing and PR “tie-in.”

It seems that the Boeing Company has partnered with Stocker Farms in Snohomish County Washington to create a Boeing 787 corn maze.

Yes, that’s right.

According to the press release,

“This year’s corn maze will use a series of trails throughout the 10-acre field to create the design of a 787 Dreamliner airplane. The theme of this year’s maze, “Outstanding in Our Field,” represents The Boeing Company’s commitment to excellence and innovation in aerospace and Stocker Farms’ excellence and innovation in agritainment (agricultural entertainment) to help maintain a high quality of life in the region.”

Our reader wondered,

“It’s too bad they’re not building the 787 in Kansas. Then Dorothy and her little dog could wander through.

You have to wonder about how these discussions went.

‘I’ve got this great idea to promote the 787. Instead of running consumer ads to promote the plane, let’s partner with a local farm and build a maze out of corn.’

‘BRILLIANT!’

I could understand this idea if it were Embraer or Canadair, whose RJs serve smaller, more rural markets (like White Plains and Tulsa). But Boeing? For the long-haul 787?

I shudder to think what Boeing will do if there’s a Washington State Fair – build a full-size replica out of apples?”

We’re baaack.

What a sad day to get back to work.

Yes, instead of the usual “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” mindset I would normally employ to get you back in the swing of things here at PlaneBuzz — for those of us who call the airline industry home it is indeed a sad day.

And not just because it is September 11.

No, today we also found out that Jeff McClelland, CAO and EVP of US Airways, and one of the nicest guys you ever would want to meet in this industry, passed away Sunday. Jeff was only 47.

Jeff had fought an excruciatingly long battle with cancer — and in the end the cancer finally won.

Not only was Jeff one of the “good guys,” he was good at what he did. For those of you who remember what operations were like at America West before Jeff got there in 1999 — I need say no more.

US Airways announced Monday that it will name its flight training center the Jeffrey D. McClelland Flight Center in honor of Jeff. A scholarship fund will also be set up as part of the US Airways Education Foundation.