The optimistic postwar brochures from general aviation manufacturers reveal a mix of confidence and dreams that played out with varying degrees of success.
Aviation was key to the end of World War II 75 years ago
This year, the 75th anniversary of VJ-Day — Victory over Japan — will be commemorated at Pearl Harbor, where the war began for America.
Blast from the past: A classic air show
Slip back in time to 1976. Gasoline cost 57 cents a gallon. That January saw the first commercial Concorde supersonic transport flight. The Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs started a new company called Apple Computers. And in Harlingen, Texas, the Confederate Air Force gave an air show for the ages.
The Wilder Wildcat
During World War II, General Motors shifted gears from making cars to building warbirds.
The Wichita Fokker
Reminiscent of the World War I German Fokker D.VII fighter, the elephant ear Travel Air 2000 gained a nickname as the Wichita Fokker.
Designing aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Service in 1922
In the 19 years since the Wrights first flew, the design of aircraft was being codified and quantified with precision.
For the Duration
There are stark differences between the current Duration and the wartime version.
Boeing 247 set the tone for airliners
The groundbreaking Boeing 247 had a positive impact on the future of Boeing.
Production miracles built the American Air Armada in World War II
“At the peak of production in 1944, 16 B-17G Flying Fortresses were completed during each one-day 20-hour work shift.”