Aviation pioneer Waldo Waterman was a pilot and innovator of some repute in California in the 1920s. In 1928, he came to the Valley as the first manager of Metropolitan Field, a 394-acre, sod-runway airport opened on bean fields at Woodley Avenue and Saticoy Street.

In those days, two grass runways intersected. A single hangar that faced on the original east-west flight line still remains at 16217 Lindbergh Street, on the east side of today's Van Nuys Airport. Waterman Drive is said to follow part of the old runway.

Backed by Hollywood figures and Tarzana founder Edgar Rice Burroughs, Waterman opened Metropolitan on Dec. 17, 1928 with a big party. The Owensmouth High School (now Canoga Park High) band played. "Everyone was there," Western Flying magazine said. A year later, Waterman set the American altitude record of 20,820 feet.