Sunday saw a crowd of nearly 3,000 gather on the north side of Santa Monica Airport to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first ever flight around the world.
This amazing achievement was accomplished in four specifically modified aircraft manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, which was based at the airport when it was still known as Clover Field. In fact, Southern California positively drips in aviation history, lest we forget that the sound barrier was broken in 1947 over Edwards Air Force Base, just a hair’s breadth outside of Los Angeles County and Santa Monica’s contribution to SoCal’s aeronautical legacy is equally awe-inspiring.
Hosted by the Santa Monica Airport Association, there were activities for everyone, including vintage aircraft, aircraft seemingly from the future, helicopters, flight simulators, plus food trucks, live music and an incredible flyover from a C-53 transport built by Douglas at Santa Monica Airport in 1943 and actually used to drop US paratroopers into occupied Normandy for D-Day in June 1944 and later Operation Market Garden in September of the same year. Called D-Day Doll, this magnificent aircraft is one of only a handful of airworthy C-53s and came courtesy of the Inland Empire Wing at Riverside Municipal Airport.
However, the focus was just as much on the future this year as it was the past, as electronic aircraft have begun to arrive at Santa Monica Airport. Archer Aviation had a stand as did Eco-Aviation and the Proteus Flight School, which is now operating the Pipistrel Velis Electro, the world’s first certified electric aircraft. (Look out for a forthcoming feature on the Electro as this reporter was recently allowed to actually fly one.) But the Joby electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi was undoubtedly the star of the show. And the never-ending queue of curious folk keen to get a glimpse of the interior of the revolutionary new aircraft very much reflected that.
"The purpose of bringing these electric aircraft here today is to inspire the community to understand that electric aviation is here today. It's quiet, it's green and doesn't emit any pollutants. It's affordable. The electric airplane that's already flying here is available for training, very affordable costs. You don't need to put any fuel in it. And very soon, many young people in this community are going to be taking flying lessons in that airplane, because they'll be able to afford it," siad Scott Burgess, President of Eco-Aviation.
"The electric vertical aircraft that are coming from Joby, Archer and Pivotal in the next few years are going to whisk anybody across Los Angeles, skipping the traffic in total, clean, quiet, comfort and for a very affordable cost, a cost that nearly everybody can can muster. So that's why they're here. They're here to share their story. They're here to show that this is a community airport. It's not a private airport, it's for everybody," he said.
Mayor Phil Brock issued a proclamation to event organizers Vanessa Gibson and Ben Marcus and gave an entertaining speech, briefly explaining the importance of the event.
"We're celebrating the 100th anniversary of 200,000 people being here at the airport to watch a plane land, that is amazing. There's a few thousand of you here now, imagine the entire Clover Field packed with residents, packed with visitors from all throughout Los Angeles and this is a great celebration of an historical moment in our city," Brock said.
There were also bus tours around the site and across the other side of the runway, by the amazing Museum of Flying. You don’t have to be a propellerhead or a history buff, but if you live in Santa Monica, this opportunity for enlightenment is a must.
The Museum of Flying is located on the grounds of SMO at 3100 Airport Avenue and is open from Thursday-Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
