I also don't know much about planes, but I like them. Same w/ women. Great looking machines and girls, all of them!
It is obvious that you are not being casual about his memory and that you are a great caretaker of the most important items, the people who meant the most to him (and you). The fact that you respect his material things is just a bonus. He could not have wished for a better friend than you from the looks of it.