Originally Posted by RNE

Indeed. And while my glory is legendary and sung among the lurkers of Rohan, none compare to XYZZY. Mark my words, my friends: XYZZY was here before the airfields and the airports; XYZZY remembers the first windsock and the first taxiway. He made runways before the engineers, and saw the pilots arriving. He was here before the Wright Brothers. When the airmen passed westward, XYZZY was here already, before the skies were bent. He knew the dark under the hanger when it was lantern lit - before the Smisek came from Mordor where the shadows lie.

RNE, paraphrasing JRRT.