‘Something for everyone’
If you’re tired of the news being dominated by tearful celebrity confessions and the misconduct of star athletes, you probably agree that it’s time for a new kind of hero – the kind you can be proud to have your children admire. Longtime Sandpoint residents, Forrest and Pamela Bird, couldn’t agree more.
A desire to introduce America’s children to worthwhile role models is the driving force behind their new Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center – slated for a July 7 and 8 grand opening.
Hidden away on the outskirts of Sagle, near Sandpoint, some may wonder about the location.
“It’s not commercial,” said Forrest Bird. “It’s educational. If we wanted commercial we would’ve put it downtown. But it’s not, it’s for the kids. They’re the future. That’s the heritage that Pam and I can leave … (to) take the kids and get them wound up about the sciences.”
Forrest Bird is an aviator, engineer and lifelong innovator best known for his invention of the respirator/ventilator, which has saved countless lives worldwide since its introduction in 1947. “I never thought of myself as an inventor,” he said. “That’s the last thing I thought of. But you see a need and you work with it, and some go farther than others.”
The “need” Bird saw first became apparent during World War II. “We had planes that were supercharged and turbocharged and would go up to maybe 40,000 feet,” he explains. “But the problem was our pilots were limited to 28,000 feet before they ran out of oxygen. Even though we had free-flowing oxygen it wasn’t sufficient to allow them to go above 28,000 feet. We designed a regulator that would give constant pressure, force it into the lungs, and that allowed us to take (the pilots) up to very high altitudes.”
A few years later, Bird realized the same technology that worked for the pilots could also work for a friend’s father suffering from emphysema. He converted the regulator over to treat patients’ lungs, to help those suffering from not only emphysema, but other pulmonary problems as well. The Bird respirator was born, and from there the field of pulmonary medicine took off, gradually leading to the highly advanced and specialized respirators of today.
Of all his developments, Bird takes greatest pride in the Baby Bird – a respirator specially designed to assist the tiny lungs of premature babies. First introduced in 1969, the device reduced the mortality rate of premature infants from a heartbreaking 70 percent down to only 10.
Together, Bird, and his wife, Pam – who holds a doctorate in business administration and helps inventors get their products to market – make a perfect pair to run the museum. And now, after four years of planning and hard work, the Birds are inviting the public to celebrate the grand opening, including a fly-in with at least 50 aircraft, and a meet-and-greet session with some of the world’s top aviators and inventors. Those scheduled to be in attendance are legendary Triple Ace Flying Tiger David Lee “Tex” Hill, astronaut John Grunsfeld, and Marcian E. “Tedd” Hoff, inventor of the computer microprocessor.
On the main floor of the 16,000-foot building, visitors can view the Bird’s historic collection of 21 airplanes dating from World War II, including seaplanes, single- and twin-engine planes, with models from Cessna, Waco and Piper Cub. On the outskirts of the room are mannequins dressed in period clothing, handcrafted model planes and military figurines, and flags from countries all around the world. The walls are adorned with framed photographs and limited edition paintings, many bearing the original signatures of renowned historical figures like Chuck Yeager, Paul Tibbets – pilot of the Enola Gay, and Amelia Earhart.
A side room showcases the invention of the Barbie Doll, Gatorade, the microphone, and dozens of other products that have changed our world. A special treat is the display of one of a kind, original patent models of the box spring mattress, door knob, washing machine, airship propeller and even an improved cow bell strap. On the museum’s upper floor, visitors will find prototypes of not only Bird’s inventions, but those of other innovators as well. “We tried hard to diversify,” Bird says, “to include something for everyone.”
The opening extravaganza is scheduled for next Saturday and July 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the special meet-and-greet sessions held both days from 10:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Visit the Web site for a complete list of session attendees, and bring along any personal items you may wish to have autographed.