A Captain's Collection
Courtesy Captain Arthur K "Oley" Olsen Jr.'s Family
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Mark VII Dalton Nav Computer
MARK VII (Model B) Dalton Aircraft Navigational Computer for Speed-Time-Distance Calculations with Altimeter and Airspeed Correction capability.
Captain Arthur "Oley" K. Olsen Jr. (also Beacon Field instructor)
Captain Olsen's 36 Year US Air Career and Captain's bars
This magnificent pen and ink by J.Hager Reid of City View at Beacon Field captures the grand stature of an era gone by on Historic Route 1 in south Fairfax County.
This CAA Region One wood sign hung outside off the front porch of the CAA building at Beacon for many years and survived. The sign has unique artwork with the Wright flyer above the beacon light tower beaming across the United States on a crest of wings.
In the early 50's photo below on the left, a WWI Army Biplane Jenny Hub rests on the Beacon office file cabinet over the shoulder of Mr. Al Steidel. In the photo on the right, the same Jenny Hub has survived another 50 years and will celebrate its 90th birthday not far from that very site.
Beacon tower ladder lock
This heavy hardened brass padlock embossed with the CAA identification was installed on the base of the ladder that extended up through the beacon tower. The lock prevented "unauthorized access" to the US Government beacon station. When the goverment dismantled the tower, Harry J. Lehman recovered the lock and key for Beacon Field posterity.
During World War II, Harry J Lehman served as a RAF Wing Commander, Director of Training at Clewiston, Florida, part of the US support program for the United Kingdom. The Clewiston facility trained RAF who later became fighter, bomber, and torpedo flight personnel. Harry corresponded with many British pilots following the war.
The LINK TRAINER building was the primary simulator facility that was located adjacent to the Beacon Field Office. Edwin A. Link invented the Trainer Simulator (ANT-18BIT) in 1929 as a safer way to teach pilots flying under instruments. BIT stood for BASIC INSTRUMENT TRAINER. Link hailed from a New York family involved in Nickelodeon and Organ production. Knowledge of pumps, valves, and bellows provided a great foundation for the his creation of a simulator that pitched, bumped and rolled. During WWII, Link produced 10,000 units, 1 every 45 minutes to support the war requirements.
To save this Link Trainer building, Harry J. Lehman contracted house movers to relocate the 20 by 40 foot cinderblock facility (shown below) to his residence. The ANT-18BIT was sold. The building has been reroofed and is actively used today.
To save this Link Trainer building, Harry J. Lehman contracted house movers to relocate the 20 by 40 foot cinderblock facility (shown below) to his residence. The ANT-18BIT was sold. The building has been reroofed and is actively used today.
---Link Trainer Building THEN (1950s in snowstorm)
Alexandria-Virginia Airport, Inc was a large commercial aviation training program established in 1944 in support of the post WWII GI Bill and later the Korean War GI Bill. This business performed all aspects of the FBO operations at Beacon Field Airport including gas sales, rentals, airport maintenance and facility management.
Original Watercolor by Jim Crawford depicting Post Office No. 253 US Mail DeHavilland DH-4 biplane, with a 500 pound mail carrying capacity. The mail was stowed in the front compartment.
May 15, 1955 training receipt for 1 hour of dual instruction at Beacon Field in N82146.
Courtesy Emrico Family
Open cockpit flying required special aviator eyeware. Below are four pairs of aviator goggles worn at Beacon Field including the Mark IVB that has a "flip down" sun visor.
A M Goggles MARK IV B
MK II Goggles ---Courtesy of Emrico Family
General Mills' collectible Airplane Coins
Only in Canada, General Mills' collectible Airplane Coins (2 sided colored plastic and cardboard wheels) were included as prizes in boxes of JELL-O and Hostess Potato Chip bags in the late 50's and early 60's to the delight of many young people who worked their "parents hard" to complete the collection of 200 coins depicting Canadian aviation history. The CBY-3 Burnelli Loadmaster, which was one of the most unique airplanes ever to hangar at Beacon Field, was recognized in the collection for its part in Canadian aviation history. (see the front page).
Only in Canada, General Mills' collectible Airplane Coins (2 sided colored plastic and cardboard wheels) were included as prizes in boxes of JELL-O and Hostess Potato Chip bags in the late 50's and early 60's to the delight of many young people who worked their "parents hard" to complete the collection of 200 coins depicting Canadian aviation history. The CBY-3 Burnelli Loadmaster, which was one of the most unique airplanes ever to hangar at Beacon Field, was recognized in the collection for its part in Canadian aviation history. (see the front page).
