Nostalgic golden age of flying

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Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby Jetranger » Sun Jun 26, 2016 4:17 am

Endless legroom, smoking lounges and polite chatter: Nostalgic photos from the golden age of flying reveals the glamorous journeys of the 1950s

Passengers dressed to impress in the 1950s with men in Italian suits, women in dresses and children in formalwear
Cabins had smoking lounges, cupboards to hang coats, tables for the family to sit around and plenty of legroom
However, beneath the gloss, cabins in this era were loud and there was enough turbulence to cause air sickness

Flying in the 1950s was a world away from modern journeys blighted by screaming children, air rage and insipid food.

During the golden age of aviation, airline passengers looked pristine, oozing with the glamour of silver screen icons. Ladies wore expensive pearl necklaces, gloves and dresses, men Italian suits and even children were clad in tailored formal wear such as bow ties for boys.

These affluent passengers travelled in a style that few could afford or imagine in that era, with a return flight from London to Australia costing more than an average annual salary.

However, the nostalgic images don’t betray how noisy and turbulent flights of this era could be. Flying at around 25,000ft air sickness was common among passengers.

Up until the 1960s many flew on Douglas Commercial aircraft then later Boeing and Lockheed grew in popularity. Pan America first introduced a ‘tourist class’ in 1948 making air travel more affordable and the world more accessible but the aviation industry has transformed dramatically since then.

Adding vibrance to a faded yesteryear, AirlineRatings has compiled a collection of colour images, some of which have been restored, to transport readers back to the halcyon days of 1950s air travel.

STORY LINK : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3659743/Endless-legroom-smoking-lounges-polite-chatter-Nostalgic-photos-golden-age-flying-reveals-glamorous-journeys-1950s.html

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Re: Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby Fozzer » Sun Jun 26, 2016 4:51 am

I have many fond memories of the late 1940's and early 1950's with my motorcycle trips around the English countryside, when the roads were mostly devoid of traffic, and what traffic there was, travelled at sedately/sensible speeds!
With motorcycle and motorcar tyres being what they were at he time, most breakdowns were tyre punctures caused by boot studs and horse-shoe studs on the roads.
Local Farmers always had metal studs in their working boots which often detached from their boots, and deposited them (studs) on the highway waiting for an errant motorist/motorcyclist to pass over them, with dire results!

But apart from that, motoring was very enjoyable in those far-off days, with many family trips to the Sea-side, motorcycle+sidecar!

Being on a motorcycle, with the fresh air and wind all around me, (..think Sopwith Camel!), I often imagine that I am travelling those same roads from long ago!...>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwEMEbzL5lk

When life was slower and less hectic!

Magic Times!.... :dance: ....!

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Re: Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby pete » Sun Jun 26, 2016 5:52 am

Thank god those days are over! All that pretentious conformity too. Now, thanks to entrepreneurism, we can get flights cheaper than it costs to drive. The only downside is the inconvenience of security checks, & not to mention airport parking ... - but you get used to that and it becomes routine. Though often the parking is more expensive than the flight!

Thing that amazes me thogh is how few look out the window. I've flown over the most amazing places that people go to visit - yet hardly anyone is looking out. :think:

But I do admit those old birds had much more character than today's streamlined winged tubes
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo da Vinci
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Re: Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby Jetranger » Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:08 am

Can ya' see pete dresssed in a suit wearing a Fedona' ???? just to go Flying ????

However I can see him dressed in motorcycle gear and a helmet,,,, while he goes Flying on 2 - wheels !!!!
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Re: Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby C » Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:30 am

pete wrote:
Thing that amazes me thogh is how few look out the window. I've flown over the most amazing places that people go to visit - yet hardly anyone is looking out. :think:

But I do admit those old birds had much more character than today's streamlined winged tubes



Putting the window blind down ASAP after takeoff does seem to happen a lot these days. Unless you're going trans-ocean or over a complete wilderness there is so much to see.
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Re: Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby Fozzer » Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:31 am

I know its all to do with nostalgia, and the feeling that things were better in the; "Olden Days"....
...most of which was probably an illusion!

I have vivid memories of the time during and shortly after the second World War.
A time of gradual change from the miseries of the War, to a brighter, cleaner time, when new things were happening all around.
It was an age of; "Modernising".

For me, a Teenager at the age of 16 in 1950, the World was opening up all around me.
New buildings, new housing estates, new roads, new vehicles of all sorts.
The process has gone on, ever accelerating over the following decades!

But my everlasting memories are embedded in the 1950's... :D ...!

Paul.... :mrgreen: ...!
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Re: Nostalgic golden age of flying

Postby OldAirmail » Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:57 am

pete wrote:Thank god those days are over! All that pretentious conformity too. ...
WHAT! :o

That's why I prefer to fly by private jet - I don't have to mix with the low lifes!

Me, in a costumed tailored suites, living the high life. :lol: :lol: :lol:


Can't even afford costumed tailored underwear. :roll:
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