SAN DIEGO'S TRIBUTE TO THE SKIES
Story and photography
by Margaret & Eric Anderson

The aircraft screaming into San Diego's Lindbergh Field every few minutes offend every sense in the human body. In their flight path, they cross over the car park of Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group where patients hurrying for their appointments cringe and cover their ears. The airplanes add a touch of power above the outdoor stage of the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park where, with an expertise born of necessity, the performers freeze their actions until the noise has gone.

The aircraft pass above the rotunda that housed the Ford Motor Company exhibit in 1935 at the California Pacific International Exposition but here the crowd looks up and waves. The noise is the same, but those people are different. They are streaming into San Diego's Aerospace Historical Center to study exhibits important in their lives and learn about those few lucky persons who flew skyward and "touched the face of God." The simple sign that welcomes them reads, "Man traveled over the earth, then he conquered the seas, and then he triumphed in conquering air and space." The museum spotlights both those who triumphed and those who failed but failed gloriously.

Visitors Walk into History Overhead, for example, are tributes to the pioneers: A replica of the original balloon launched over Paris, France in 1783 by the brothers de Montgolfier; a reproduction of a glider (a bit like today's hang gliders) built in the 1870's by German aero pioneer Otto Lilienthal and used for more than 2,000 successful flights; and an example of Bleriot's famous monoplane bearing a label, "Yes, it flies!"

In a special place is a reproduction of the Wright Flyer. It commemorates that great moment in 1903 when Orville Wright sent a telegram to his father on 17 December that read, "Success four flights Thursday morning all against 21 mile wind started from level with engine power alone -- average speed through air 31 miles longest 59 seconds inform press home Christmas."

Beyond are a couple of life-size exhibits telling the tale of Lincoln Beachey, "the greatest of the birdmen," and Calbraith Perry Rodgers, the first man to make a transcontinental flight of the United States. Rodgers took off September 17, 1911, and landed in California 49 days later having crashed many times -- indeed the only original parts of his aircraft were the vertical rudder and two wing struts! Why did he do it? No doubt for the glory and because William Randolph Hearst had offered a prize of $50,000.

As Much Fun As A School Field Trip: Providence, RI