Celebrating Burbank's rich aviation history

As printed in the Burbank Leader, January 30, 2002. By J. Ron Dickson

Mr. Simmons reminds us all of our rich history here in the San Fernando Valley, and I am delighted that the Burbank Leader has provided a forum for it's preservation. Without these printed words the history will be lost, and we will all be the losers in the long run.

Another archive of our aviation history is from the Burbank Aviation Museum, a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation of our great aviation history. In the newsletter article dated September 1993, we learn that Dave Simmons has a long history in aviation. His first flight was in 1920 in a Curtiss JN4D. In 1929 he flew in the large DeHavilland bomber with cameraman Albert Dyer while filming the Howard Hughes epic "Hell's Angels" in the San Fernando Valley near Metropolitan (now Van Nuys) airport. He was in attendance at the opening of the airport in Burbank in May of 1930.

He joined the Lockheed Air Terminal Company in 1946, became its President in 1968 and retired with 38 years of service in 1984. He worked with Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Paul Mantz and many other notables.

During his tenure, Lockheed Air Terminal came to design and manage 30 airports around the world and provide refueling services for 20% of the world's airlines. Mr. Simmons says in the newsletter, "My career has bridged the entire history of flight, from fabric to aluminum, to titanium and composites. I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world." (Newsletter article by Lance Thompson)

I wish to document the aviation history of the San Fernando Valley before the Centennial of Flight in 2003. If you can help, please contact me at 845-3300 or through the web site: http://www.GoDickson.com

I wonder what percentage of people who happen to notice the airplane shapes at the new Media Mall have an idea of why they are there?

J. Ron Dickson Burbank, CA