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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Man On And Float Plane On Shore With Small Boats
Air Force Soldier In Front Of A Fighter Plane At The Air Force Test Center, 1964
I believe it's a Saab 35 Draken. The pilot has just taken off the air intakes for the engines.
Ford Motor C. Plane, 1926 Or 1927
Interesting. Frankly, I'm surprised that nothing long term came of it.
Old Water Plane Aircraft, "Fws Grumman Goose N789"
Manufactured in 1944 and transferred to Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 1956. Still flying today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG21lXdAIks
Maughan's Curtiss Pursuit Plane, Between Ca. 1920 And Ca. 1925
British Handley Page, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
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.
Interceptor Plane, Lake Muroc, California, 1942
Otherwise known as a P-38F (correct me on this if needed) Lightning. The type of plane that shot down General Yamamoto in 1943.
Native Alaskan Children In Front Of Small Plane On Skiis, Village Of Kaltag, On The Yukon River, 1954
From the US Department of the Interior. Probably flying in supplies, medicine, or other materials and can only land on skis.
Navy Boeing Patrol Plane Pb - 1, 1925
Coolidge Inspecting World Flight Plane At Bowling, Field, Washington, D.c., 1924
Camel & Plane
A mail plane! Here's its long journey from England to South Africa: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/g-aaxf/
Hydro-Plane, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
Army Photo, Planes, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
Airplane Of Aviator Harry Nelson Atwood Rising, Between Ca. 1910 And Ca. 1915
Christmas Plane, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
"Looping" Airplane Flown By A Marine At The Marine Flying Field, Miami, Florida During World War I, 1918
A Sample Of The New Swedish Fighter Plane "Dragon", 1960
Same plane model as in the "Air Force Soldier In Front Of A Fighter Plane At The Air Force Test Center, 1964" picture
Return Of Scout Plane, Between Ca. 1915 And Ca. 1920
Torpedo Plane, 1923
Lot Plane Arriving At Lydda Air Port, Between 1934 And 1939
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
Mummert Plane, Between Ca. 1920 And Ca. 1925,
A small propeller like that powered by a two-cylinder engine must have required a long runway for takeoff
Ba's New Fast Plane "Lockheed 14" At Bromma, 1938
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.
Douglas World Cuiser Plane, Around 1923
Interceptor Plane At Lake Muroc, California, 1942
Wright Brothers Airplane, Etc. Type A Plane At Fort Myer, 1909
Michael Effimoff Seated In Flying Costume In A Primitive Plane, Around 1910
I'll bet the first thing he got after his first couple of trips was a pair of goggles.
Wright Aeroplane On Starting Track, Ca. 1909
A baby born that day wouldn’t be eligible for Social Security before man walked on the moon
where is "snoopy" the WW1 fighter ace with his sopwith camel in search of the red baron?
where is "snoopy" the WW1 fighter ace with his sopwith camel in search of the red baron?