The Proud Bird

stikpusher

plus near daily airshows from Luke AFB

I totally forgot about that base. Wow...you should definitely have some nice aircrafts flying over. Some great referrence material for future builds. I have 1.6 years left then I will be retiring. I'm so looking forward to that. People keep telling me I'll be bored but I have nothing but time to enjoy this hobby, the outdoors, working my property and many other things I enjoy. 

Thanks Drifer. Yes indeed... I eagerly look forward to less crowding, and much saner taxes and cost of living.... plus near daily airshows from Luke AFB... 

stikpusher

I’m happy to hear that you liked this Drifter. I’ll be retiring next year and we are heading to Arizona. In the Phoenix area.

 

I’m happy to hear that you liked this Drifter. I’ll be retiring next year and we are heading to Arizona. In the Phoenix area.

Great photos and history story Carlos. I have heard of the original place but never had the opportunity to stop by. I have only been to California once on my way to Fort Lewis. Again, thank you for posting these great photos.

P.S. - In a different post you mentioned retiring at the first of the year and relocating. Where will you and your wife be relocating to?

That looks like a nice place, even the outside appears entertaining. I will have to check it out if I find myself flying into LAX.

I glad the 94th Squardron was mentioned. I vaguely remember one, and I wonder if it was in St Louis and I would have been there visiting McDonnell Douglas.

Anyway, what a fun restaurant theme and it is nice to know there is one there. Thanks.

Tanker, it sure is a nifty little collection. I hope they get those ones in the back 40 fixed up and one proper display. Always a shame to see such lovely machines sitting awaiting restoration or repair.  At least these are not headed to the smelter.

Mach, my dad used to go to the original Bird regularly when he worked at LAX until he retired in the early 90’s. As far as the aircraft go, I’m pretty sure that the X-1 is a replica. I recall seeing another replica of that aircraft out at Edwards during the airshows there. The outside area is undergoing renovation right now and is taped off. They appear to be putting in new foot paths, grass and those marble information stones. Hopefully they will have that done soon.  I remember how the outside area used to look from driving by. 

Bish, you're quite welcome, and if your travels ever do take you here, I recommend a visit.

Ikar, it is a good place to visit at least once. The second line of the Proud Bird title sounds like an old airborne jump school running cadence, but yours is a little more family friendly.

Looks like a good place to go to.  There was a second part of the title.  The whole thing went:  The proud bird with the cast iron tail.  It might have referred to the heavier aircraft like transports and bombers, or it may have started as a line in a bit by the 1970s comedy team of Hudsom&Landry.

The 94th arreo squadron here trtied to keep going by updating to WWII.  They added a couple small armored vehicles, added sand bags to make it look like a British bunker, and changer some of the photos to include WWII photos from the 94th Fighter Squadron as well as other units.

It too faded away.

Thanks for the info carlos, really interesting look place.

Stikpusher,

Thanks for the post! I have been to the "old" Proud Bird" many times. I did not know it had reopened.

On my next LAX trip I'll have to stop by!

I'm very glad to see that it has been rescued. We used to have union meetings there in the late '90s and early 2000's. The photo's in the place are just amazing, they used to allow patrons to walk around the aircraft outside. Most are real, but some are mockups.

And the added bonus of seeing a Tuskegee airman on occasion. 

Ooh Boy!!!

 Now that's a nice collection of those venerable aircraft !

Gold, I’ll bet with some work, a few could be made airworthy. Some were probably built in the immediate area long ago. LAX is the old North American  plant, and Douglas El Segundo plant was only a few miles away. Lockheed is a bit further away in Burbank.

Don, there used to be one of those 94th Aero Squadron restauarants near Orange County/John Wayne airport. But that one closed long ago. The place I used to love to go eat at was “The Hungry Tiger”, which was run by a former member of the Flying Tigers and full of their memorabilia. Not to mention they had the best clam chowder that I’ve ever had...

Crown, the food was good. Its more casual stuff. I had a Cuban sandwich and my wife had some Beef Brisket. Next visit I’ll have to try something else.

Bish, the restaurant interior is made to look as it does. It’s a typical restaurant structure of 60s architecture. At least for Southern California. You can see part of the front entrance area in the P-51 photo.

Great collection of photos Carlos. Is the resurant is an old hanger or is it just mad to look like that.

that place looks interesting how’s the food?

There is still a 94th aero sqd in Miami right next to MIA still have working head sets by the window seats you can hear the tower speaking to the planes little pricey but food is still good.

Reminds me of the old "94th Aero Squadron" restruants, which had a WW1 Airfield theme.  The aircraft were fiberglas replicas, and the building decor was indicative of the era and a French countryside.  I assume the whole chain went belly up.

Nice.  Some of those look almost airworthy.