By Mark W. Danielson
I always get a glimpse of this unique restaurant whenever I land on 25L at Los Angeles International airport, otherwise known as LAX. I recently visited The Proud Bird for the first time, and for an aviation buff, it’s a must see.
The restaurant’s namesake stems from Continental Airlines when their catch phrase was “The Proud Bird with the Golden Tail”. Opened in the early 1960’s, this restaurant boasts perfect views of arriving aircraft as well as a museum of replica and real vintage aircraft. What makes this interesting is these replicas are fiberglass castings of actual aircraft, many of which are so convincing it’s difficult to tell the difference.
The restaurant’s namesake stems from Continental Airlines when their catch phrase was “The Proud Bird with the Golden Tail”. Opened in the early 1960’s, this restaurant boasts perfect views of arriving aircraft as well as a museum of replica and real vintage aircraft. What makes this interesting is these replicas are fiberglass castings of actual aircraft, many of which are so convincing it’s difficult to tell the difference.
When my buddy and I dined there, it was like stepping back in time. We both grew up around airplanes and never missed an episode of 12 O’clock High or Sky King. We lived and breathed airplanes, and spent countless hours sitting in cockpits, dreaming of the day when we could pilot them ourselves. The restaurant’s walls are lined with historic photos that show what life was like before the LA basin was paved over. It truly reflects the golden era of aviation when air travel was something special, and pilots were respected.
Those glory days may be gone, but they have not been forgotten at The Proud Bird. We can’t bring back the past, but if you’re near LAX, you should take a moment to reflect on them while enjoying a nice meal.
