David Compton Tallichet Jr. (December 20, 1922 – October 31, 2007) was an American businessman who started, but did not originate,[1] themed restaurants.
[2] After mustering out of active service, he joined the New Mexico Air National Guard, flying the P-51 Mustang.
In 1955, he was managing the Lafayette Hotel in Long Beach, California, which hosted a Miss Universe beauty pageant; he later married the contestant from Indiana.
In 1958, Tallichet and SeaWorld founder George Millay formed Specialty Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business.
Inspired by a trip to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the early 1960s, he began to buy vintage aircraft.
[5][6] On hearing about the proposed production of the movie Memphis Belle, Tallichet offered to fly his own B-17 across the Atlantic Ocean for filming.