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Long before jet engines and pressurized cabins, flying was a daredevil's game! These remarkable photographs from aviation's earliest days showcase a time when planes were made of wood, fabric, and pure courage. From the Wright brothers' first tentative hops to the brave barnstormers and World War I flying aces, these images capture an era when taking to the skies was considered nearly magical. Back then, just seeing one of these contraptions overhead would bring entire towns to a standstill. Grab your leather helmet and goggles as we journey back to when humans first conquered gravity with these incredible flying machines!
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#1
Man On And Float Plane On Shore With Small Boats
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#2
Air Force Soldier In Front Of A Fighter Plane At The Air Force Test Center, 1964
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
I believe it's a Saab 35 Draken. The pilot has just taken off the air intakes for the engines.
#3
Ford Motor C. Plane, 1926 Or 1927
Hippopotamuses 3 weeks ago
Interesting. Frankly, I'm surprised that nothing long term came of it.
#4
Old Water Plane Aircraft, "Fws Grumman Goose N789"
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
Manufactured in 1944 and transferred to Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 1956. Still flying today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG21lXdAIks
#6
British Handley Page, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
James Evans 2 weeks ago
The open area in the nose is an observer's area. The pilot and co-pilot cockpit area is obscured by the right-side engine.
#7
Interceptor Plane, Lake Muroc, California, 1942
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
Otherwise known as a P-38F (correct me on this if needed) Lightning. The type of plane that shot down General Yamamoto in 1943.
#8
Native Alaskan Children In Front Of Small Plane On Skiis, Village Of Kaltag, On The Yukon River, 1954
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
From the US Department of the Interior. Probably flying in supplies, medicine, or other materials and can only land on skis.
#10
Coolidge Inspecting World Flight Plane At Bowling, Field, Washington, D.c., 1924
#11
Camel & Plane
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
A mail plane! Here's its long journey from England to South Africa: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/g-aaxf/
#14
Airplane Of Aviator Harry Nelson Atwood Rising, Between Ca. 1910 And Ca. 1915
#16
"Looping" Airplane Flown By A Marine At The Marine Flying Field, Miami, Florida During World War I, 1918
#17
A Sample Of The New Swedish Fighter Plane "Dragon", 1960
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
Same plane model as in the "Air Force Soldier In Front Of A Fighter Plane At The Air Force Test Center, 1964" picture
#18
Return Of Scout Plane, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
#19
Torpedo Plane, 1923
#20
Lot Plane Arriving At Lydda Air Port, Between 1934 And 1939
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
Polish Airlines (Polskie Linie Lotnicze - LOT); this particular model crashed in 1960 with minimal damage and no fatalities flying for Hungarian airlines. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/173873
#21
Mummert Plane, Between Ca. 1920 And Ca. 1925,
sofacushionfort 3 weeks ago (edited)
A small propeller like that powered by a two-cylinder engine must have required a long runway for takeoff
#22
Ba's New Fast Plane "Lockheed 14" At Bromma, 1938
Gossameringue 3 weeks ago
A Lockheed Electra 14, the successor to the 10E that Earhart flew and disappeared in. This particular model lasted only about a year before suffering an engine fire and being totaled.
#24
Interceptor Plane At Lake Muroc, California, 1942
#26
Michael Effimoff Seated In Flying Costume In A Primitive Plane, Around 1910
Hippopotamuses 3 weeks ago
I'll bet the first thing he got after his first couple of trips was a pair of goggles.
#27
Wright Aeroplane On Starting Track, Ca. 1909
sofacushionfort 3 weeks ago (edited)
A baby born that day wouldn’t be eligible for Social Security before man walked on the moon
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Major Harris 3 weeks ago
where is "snoopy" the WW1 fighter ace with his sopwith camel in search of the red baron?
Major Harris 3 weeks ago
where is "snoopy" the WW1 fighter ace with his sopwith camel in search of the red baron?
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