Where have all the knick-knacks gone? Dave
Wheatland deeply regrets a the loss of wall
hangings and other paraphenalia that carry
aviation history to the following generations.nce again I
am back in
the USA
to work
on another
f light test
project at Mojave
in California. Here in the
Antelope Valley, the place names
of Palmdale, Mojave or Edwards
immediately are connected with
aviation and especially f light
test, whenever mentioned in
ordinary conversation. The
aviation connection is assumed,
accepted and respected. I notice
that the same is not true when
places or persons associated with
Australia’s rich aviation heritage
are mentioned, except of course
for the Smiths: Charles Kingsford
and Dick. Our pioneers such
as Duigan and Hargrave create
barely a ripple of recognition
whearas the mere mention of
the Wright Brothers or Charles
Lindberg are lauded loud and
long for their achievements ... and
also for many achievements that
actually belong to others.
Australia is a country which
is steeped in the benefits of air
travel and innovation in this
realm, most of which passed into
history with little notice to the
general populous. It is not a part
of the social fabric or mainstream
curricular formalisation. A fewdays ago I lunched at a restaurant
and reception centre right on
the boundary of Los Angeles
International Airport and
watched the airliners pass close
by as I sat on a balcony sipping a
Corona and munching nachos.
They were so close I felt I could
almost reach out and brush them.
They were many others at this
venue enjoying lunch, and no-one
complained about the planes; they
were totally accepting of them and
even enjoyed the spectacle. The
other interesting thing was the
restaurant is called The Proud
Bird, and is surrounded on its
lawns, gardens and car parks by
aircraft full scale replicas of other
famous aircraft as the prime
theme. The interior has walls
adorned with pictures, posters and
one of the dining rooms is even
thematically modelled on a wide-
body cabin interior.
Artefacts in glass cases abound,
and a tribute display about the
Tuskegee Airmen stands in the
large entry hall. Everyone enters
passes through this rich display
of history, and each become
a little more engaged in their
aviation heritage.
Almost every airport however
large or small has a diner–or a
full scale restaurant–on it, and all
are bedecked with memorabilia,
posters, paintings, photos,artefacts and in some cases, a
Piper cub, or Luscombe may hang
in the entryway.
Brekky next day at Flo’s in Chino
was packed with Mother’s Day
groups; 90% were not from the
aviation community, this was just
their local diner, and once again the
P-51 cockpit poster, models, and
the walls covered in aircraft decor
embeds the spirit of the airport
into the wider community.
Outside a bright yellow
Stearman was doing circuits
and no-one complained about
the sound of the radial engine
disturbing their meal.This thematic aviation
connection is not confined to
airports by any means.
Many years ago an absolute
gentleman called Ray the Villen
Man told me of a bar in down
town Anchorage, Alaska, called
F Street Station. When the
opportunity presented I made
the pilgrimage and was rewarded
with a rich timber-paneled bar
with every available space covered
with photos, paintings and an
entry door almost covered with
aviation stickers from military,
airlines, manufacturers, suppliers
and general aviation marques.The White Wall
Conspiracy
AUSTRALIAN FLYING July – August 2018DAVE WHEATLAND
wheatie
The kernels of Dave “Wheatie” Wheatland started out lying crop sprayers
around South Gippsland in Victoria and was instrumental in
the development of the GippsAero GA200 Fatman and the GA8
Airvan. He has ferried and demonstrated the GA8 all around
the world, clocking up 3000 hours on the type. Dave is currently
heading up the test schedule for the GippsAero GA10.80
BILL WARDLE