25 Vintage Photos From The Glory Days Of Aviation

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December 17, 1903 - Orville Wright maneuvers the Wright Flyer as it makes its first flight ever over Kitty Hawk, NC. The plane, made of wood, wire, and cloth, traveled 120 feet and flew for 12 seconds.

December 17, 1903 - Orville Wright maneuvers the Wright Flyer as it makes its first flight ever over Kitty Hawk, NC. The plane, made of wood, wire, and cloth, traveled 120 feet and flew for 12 seconds.
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1927 - A young Charles Lindbergh stands next to the Spirit of St. Louis, which he famously flew from Roosevelt Island all the way to Paris.

1927 - A young Charles Lindbergh stands next to the Spirit of St. Louis, which he famously flew from Roosevelt Island all the way to Paris.
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June 26, 1928 - "Aviatrix" Amelia Earhart arrives in Southampton, England after flying the "Friendship" from Burry Point, Wales.

June 26, 1928 - "Aviatrix" Amelia Earhart arrives in Southampton, England after flying the "Friendship" from Burry Point, Wales.

This "modern passenger-carrying airplane" had wicker chairs (date unknown).

This "modern passenger-carrying airplane" had wicker chairs (date unknown).
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November 1934 - Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas arrive at Newark Airport.

November 1934 - Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas arrive at Newark Airport.

December 19, 1936 - One of the first male stewards on a domestic airline makes a passenger comfortable at Newark Airport.

December 19, 1936 -  One of the first male stewards on a domestic airline makes a passenger comfortable at Newark Airport.
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1939 - US Army airplanes fly over Manhattan.

1939 - US Army airplanes fly over Manhattan.

1939 - Airline "hostesses" wave at the camera in New York.

1939 - Airline "hostesses" wave at the camera in New York.
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1940 - Women stand in front of a new United Airlines plane at the New York World's Fair.

1940 - Women stand in front of a new United Airlines plane at the New York World's Fair.

1940 - Onlookers gaze at famed aviator Howard Hughes' plane at the New York World's Fair.

1940 - Onlookers gaze at famed aviator Howard Hughes' plane at the New York World's Fair.
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A Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser flies over Rio (date unknown).

A Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser flies over Rio (date unknown).

US Army airplanes in formation (date unknown).

US Army airplanes in formation (date unknown).
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A Boeing B-314 known as the "California Clipper" departs from Treasure Island in San Francisco (date unknown).

A Boeing B-314 known as the "California Clipper" departs from Treasure Island in San Francisco (date unknown).

December 1946 - Santa and his sled-dogs chat with a DC-4 Crew in Fairbanks, Alaska.

December 1946 - Santa and his sled-dogs chat with a DC-4 Crew in Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Mid-1950s - Flight service training takes place for new Pan Am stewardesses.

Mid-1950s - Flight service training takes place for new Pan Am stewardesses.

October 16, 1958 - First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and Pan Am Chairman Juan Trippe christen the Boeing 707-121, the plane that inaugurated the commercial jet age for the United States with its flight from New York to Paris.

October 16, 1958 - First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and Pan Am Chairman Juan Trippe christen the Boeing 707-121, the plane that inaugurated the commercial jet age for the United States with its flight from New York to Paris.
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A Pan Am stewardess serves ice water and olives aboard the Boeing 707 (date unknown).

A Pan Am stewardess serves ice water and olives aboard the Boeing 707 (date unknown).

January 1959 - A fashion show took place 30,000 feet above New York aboard this American Airlines jetliner.

January 1959 - A fashion show took place 30,000 feet above New York aboard this American Airlines jetliner.
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September 8, 1959 - A Pan Am Boeing 707, the first American-built jet airliner to land in Britain, lands in London. 10 crew members and 23 passengers made the historic trip from New York.

September 8, 1959 - A Pan Am Boeing 707, the first American-built jet airliner to land in Britain, lands in London. 10 crew members and 23 passengers made the historic trip from New York.

1964 - Coretta Scott King (second from the right) and Dr. Martin Luther King's parents and sister board a plane to London to see Dr. King receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

1964 - Coretta Scott King (second from the right) and Dr. Martin Luther King's parents and sister board a plane to London to see Dr. King receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
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December 2, 1964 - Pope Paul VI rides from Rome to Bombay to attend the International Eucharistic Congress on an Air-India four-jet airliner.

December 2, 1964 - Pope Paul VI rides from Rome to Bombay to attend the International Eucharistic Congress on an Air-India four-jet airliner.

1967 - An American Airlines stewardess models her new uniform, a blue knit washable stretch dress with matching belt and hair bow. The skirt was allowed to be a scandalous 2-to-3 inches above the knee.

1967 - An American Airlines stewardess models her new uniform, a blue knit washable stretch dress with matching belt and hair bow. The skirt was allowed to be a scandalous 2-to-3 inches above the knee.
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Ernest Hemingway arrives in Peru on a Pan Am flight (date unknown).

Ernest Hemingway arrives in Peru on a Pan Am flight (date unknown).

Passengers aboard a Boeing 747 enjoy the spacious economy class configuration (date unknown).

Passengers aboard a Boeing 747 enjoy the spacious economy class configuration (date unknown).
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April 15, 1972 - a 26-year-old male flight attendant (a rare bird) offers a passenger her choice of beverages on a flight over Chicago.

April 15, 1972 - a 26-year-old male flight attendant (a rare bird) offers a passenger her choice of beverages on a flight over Chicago.

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Want to see more historic photos?

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