1950 airfloat land yacht

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1950 Airfloat Land Yacht – Palm Springs Modernism Week 2011.

Published by dan on april 14, 2011 april 14, 2011.

If you had $65,000 to drop on a vintage trailer, you might want to pay good attention to this one. This is a 1950 Airfloat Land Yacht coming in at 24 feet long. They certainly do not make them like this anymore.

When I say they don’t make them like this, I mean like a big long can of SPAM on its side with submarine port holes for windows. Well, that what these look like to me and I think it is the nicest Airfloat I have ever seen. Wait til you get a load of what is inside.

This completely restored trailer actually has all of its original aluminum siding with over 600 hours of work put into it. Much of that surely went into polishing that corrugated aluminum. It has been lovinly named the ‘Villa Margarito’. If Mexico wasn’t so dangerous to travel into right now, this thing would be sitting beach side in San Felipe if I had the change to snatch it up.

The interior of the coach has been completely decked out with brand new mahogany paneling and custom-built mahogany cabinets. There is a very luxurious feeling you get when you step foot into this Airfloat much like what you would imagine James Bond owning if he was to buy a vintage trailer. The smooth Jame Bond like Sean Connery, not the rough and tumble Daniel Craig.

Aside from the plush leather double recliner chairs, granite counter tops, stainless sink and faucet and porcelain toilet, there is something even more special and unique about this Airfloat.

No, it’s not the double his and her beds.

Its definitely not the missing shower, even though that did intrigue me as to why the owner decided that a luxury vintage trailer didn’t need a shower. Well, to each his own I guess.

The secret actually lies beneath. Beneath this floor hatch.

A secret under-the-floor wine cellar. How cool is that!? That is taking space maximization to the extreme. Although you would think with all that space saved, there might have been room for a shower.

If you like what you see, here is the number you can call to get a closer view at this baby. Or go to there website at  www.airfloatlandyacht.com .

over and out, dan

Vivian Thomas Dudley · January 12, 2013 at 12:16 pm

When I was first married in 1960, my Mother gave us a 35′ Airfoat Land Yacht as a wedding gift, to live in off base at Travis AFB, CA. I forget what year it was, but looked very much like this one, though longer and it had 2 doors, one in the bedroom as well. All the wood was light ash color and the bathroom DID have a shower, though very small. The couch made a fold down bed and I had it reupholstered in a beautiful tapestry fabric. The cabinet/desk next to the couch was lighted and I kept my collection of antique tea cups there. Across from the sink there was a fold up wood table and 2 chairs and above the cabnet was a built in TV. We lived in this very comfrtable trailer until after our second son was born in 1962. Another difference I just remembered was that the window above the sink was a crank out like those above the coucn and bed, not a porthole window. We sold the trailer in 1962 and moved into a rental home near Castle AFB in Merced. I still have fond memories of our first home and often wish we had kept it. I try to remember what I did with 2 babies in that small space, but I just can’t remember. We DID have a little fold up crib, but can’t recall where they slept. I’m sure that’s why we moved into a house. I always thought of it as a luxury camper. Good memories!

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A Car Engineer Built Some Of The Most Gorgeous Campers The World Has Ever Seen

• By Mercedes Streeter
• August 1, 2024
• 18 Comments

The word “beauty” is not often associated with travel trailers . Sure, Airstreams and Bowlus trailers remain as stunning as ever, but the vast majority of travel trailers are boring boxes with only swoop decals as a lame attempt at style. Back in the 1920s, an automotive engineer started building trailers that haven’t been matched since. This 1950 Airfloat Land Yacht is a ridiculously rare piece of art that you can sleep in if you can afford it.

Trailers from the Airfloat Coach Manufacturing Company are a rarity today. They do not show up for sale often and when they do, they tend to be paired with grand asking prices. I’ve seen just two Navigators for sale recently, including one that sold today, and one of them was literally a museum piece. I’ve found another Airfloat for sale and this one might be the most perfect example in existence and even rarer than what sold on Bring a Trailer today.

This 1950 Airfloat Land Yacht is another literal museum piece, and it might be one of the most gorgeous campers to have ever reached production. Even cooler is how it employs inventions from a car engineer of the era.

From Chryslers To Campers

This specific trailer and its painstaking restoration was showcased in the July 2011 issue of Trailer Life magazine. I have a copy of this magazine on hand and it documents the history of the Airfloat Coach Manufacturing Company perhaps better than any website can.

According to Trailer Life , Airfloat was the work of automotive engineer Omar Suttles. In 1929, Suttles took his knowledge from building cars and applied it to create a 12-foot camper trailer. As Trailer Life notes, travel trailers didn’t really have their own category back then. Instead, camping vehicles were largely known as ‘House Cars.’ Suttles couldn’t register his trailer with the Department of Transportation, but he was able to get it registered by the California Auto Club.

While Airstream claims to have created the first self-contained travel trailer, Suttles’s creation comes very close, if not actually beats Airstream by more than a couple of decades. Suttles equipped his trailer with a gasoline engine which generated electricity to power the trailer’s refrigerator and charged the trailer’s batteries for nighttime lighting.

One design element Suttles added was large portholes for windows. This caught the attention of enough people that Suttles decided to put the trailer into production. A year later, trailers were constructed by his 10-man team in his auto shop in California. Somehow, Suttles’s trailer business survived the Great Depression and in 1935, he launched a new trailer under the new brand name of the Airfloat Coach Manufacturing Company.

Trailer Life notes that Suttles had a packed resume from working with Chrysler to being a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. As such, one of the things Suttles did to make Airfloat stand out was to add automotive technology to campers. One of his innovations was a rounded rooftop with a screened ventilator. When opened, heat would rise up and out of the trailer in the summer. When closed, it kept heat in on cooler days.

In 1942, Suttles joined the ranks of innovators trying to make towing easier on the era’s cars. That year, he launched the 24-foot Commodore Third Wheel trailer. Like some other forward-thinking trailers back then, the Commodore Third Wheel featured a third wheel up front near the tongue. This was designed to take some weight off of the tow vehicle by having the trailer support itself. Airfloat applied third wheels to nearly all of its trailers from 1947 to 1955, advertising them with the slogan “It’s easy on your car.”

The year 1947 also marked when Suttles moved from building his trailers out of Masonite to using aluminum skin like a number of builders were back then. Also notable is Suttles’s accolades. He was a founding member of the Trailer Coach Association, the predecessor to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. He also built trailers for the military to aid in the World War II effort. These trailers served as temporary housing in San Diego for servicemen and their families.

Trailer Life notes that Airfloat trailers were luxurious affairs and as such, they commanded prices $1,000 to $1,500 more expensive than trailers of similar size. Trailer Life ‘s example is the 1951 Airfloat Custom Land Yacht, which was 28 feet long. That trailer was $4,050 ($50,094 today), $729 ($9,017 today) more expensive than a Spartan Mansion, which was nearly two feet longer.

This luxury attracted a lot of attention. One famous Airfloat owner was James Dean, who parked a 1952 Airfloat Land Yacht outside of the set for the drama Giant. Airfloat trailers would also serve as the inspiration for the book The Long, Long, Trailer by Clinton “Buddy” Twiss.

Airfloat celebrated its silver anniversary in 1955 and the company celebrated by having all future trailers covered in gold-colored anodized aluminum. Suttles would sell the company in 1956 to Peter J. Bonin and enter retirement. Peter said he wanted to launch nationwide distribution of the trailers, but production ended just a year later.

This Airfloat

Some see Airfloat trailers as the holy grail of vintage trailers. They carry a gorgeous style and are rare enough that if you miss the sale of one, you might have to wait a while before you see another. And while countless trailers through history have been built like crap, Airfloat went for quality.

As the story goes, Peter and Linda Valia found this trailer in a mobile home park where it was sitting and rotting for 50 years. The trailer had been sitting for so long it was still shod in its factory tires from 1950. Peter hitched the trailer to his truck, took it home, and started a restoration project.

As Trailer Life writes, Peter hadn’t ever restored a trailer before, but he was a building contractor, so building stuff was up his alley. When business slowed down, Peter worked on the trailer. After 10 months, Peter had the aluminum exterior wonder restored to immaculate shape. But even better is the fact that the Valias restored the trailer to actually use as a camper, so the restoration also included some modern equipment.

The description attached to this trailer is as follows:

As you get closer, you will notice how clean and well done everything is as you see things like all new plumbing and electrical. The sleeping area features two new comfortable single beds with additional storage available underneath. Other interior features include new wood flooring, in-floor wine bottle compartment, new heater, and new toilet in the bathroom.

This 4940 pound trailer also has a new grey water tank and external sewage pump for safe and easy disposal of waste. At first glance you will notice its iconic aluminum and teal green exterior with round port windows. This is a single axle trailer and has matching Teal Green steel wheels with polished beauty rings. The exterior roof has been treated with Killz coating giving it extra protection from the elements. If plan on hauling this trailer we would recommend upgrading the undercarriage and maybe even a heavy duty axle, spring and suspension. Currently a display piece of history in our amazing collection. The interior has been completely redone and it shows and you look close at the wood and the polished aluminum that covers every inch of the interior. The inside is very comfortable and has plenty of storage space with large cupboards and drawers throughout. The interior houses new appliances such as a fridge, freezer, microwave, sink, stove with new aluminum back splash and fresh Granite countertop. The sleeping area features two new comfortable single beds with additional storage available.

This trailer has gone on to win awards at shows, be featured in Trailer Life, and it was featured in Caravan Times and other publications. The trailer was then put into a museum collection for a decade. As you’ve probably noticed, the trailer’s third wheel has been removed.

What I like about this restoration is the fact that the modern equipment isn’t in your face. Sure, the toilet looks new, but it doesn’t break the illusion that you’re sleeping in a trailer from 1950. I also love the in-floor wine bottle compartment, which is accessible via the floor hatch in front of the stove. It’s noted that the whole trailer is 28 feet long, while the living space is 24 feet of that.

To give you an idea of what these trailers are worth, an Airfloat Navigator, which is just 20 feet long, sold for $21,998 . Another Navigator sold on Bring a Trailer today for $22,750 . I’ve seen these larger Land Yachts for $52,000, $65,000, and sometimes higher. The seller for this Airfloat wants $95,000 for it, which sounds like a ton of money because it is. That’s more expensive than the few other Land Yachts I’ve seen.

Yet, at the same time, this one is probably the nicest Airfloat Land Yacht in existence, so maybe it’s worth the price? Either way, this trailer is a piece of art that I cannot stop looking at. If you buy this thing, prepare for any trip to take exponentially longer because everyone is going to want to talk to you about it.

(Images: Backinthedayclassics , unless otherwise noted.)

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• airfloat , airfloat land yacht , BigFeatured , campers , camping , RV History , rvs , RVs for sale , travel trailers , vintage campers

Mercedes Streeter

Meh, RVs are intrinsically ugly because they’re idiotic, and this one looks like a cybertruck to boot.

Wow, these are beautiful! I like the history and innovative features for the time. Giant is a good movie to watch, at least once…since it’s so long…but it’s interesting. It was James Dean’s last movie before he passed

$95k is a lot of money, but it should hold it’s value if you take care of it. Unlike the brand new garbage that falls apart in 3 years and loses about 50% of its value the minute you pull it off the dealers lot.

Based on the crap RV’s built today, this strikes me as a bargain. I have an original framed print ad for a 48foot Air float trailer featuring indoor plumbing hanging on my office wall. Circa 1954ish. Keep up you’re amazing work Mercedes. I think these trailers still featured the port holes well into the late 50’s. I haven’t found evidence of a 10 foot wide version though. I’ll search my extensive CD archives….One of my child hood fellow trailer freaks scanned all of the brochures, etc, we had during our lifetime and left them to me In his will, he left me all of this info in outdated digital format. Yes, my VCR still works, as does my 8 track player, and thankfully the CD on my old laptop.. I literally have over 3000k old ads in outdated digital format. Would be thrilled to share. He was especially fond of the 50’s two story trailer movement, as was I!

What I love about this is all the wood and portholes makes it feel like you’re in a 2nd Class cabin aboard the old Queen Mary.

Nowadays, trailer interiors are more reminiscent of Barbie’s Dream House Flip: All gray and white, cardboard and plastic.

When I look at so many designs like this one from 60 – 80 years ago, and then look at rectangular cubes that serve as RVs today, it makes me sad. This is not the most aerodynamic, but at least the rear end has some curvature. Kudos to Bowlus, Airstream and others for ensuring that the operating cost of trailers is taken into account during the design stage.

It’s certainly a classic, but I feel like $95k is a bit (a lot?) of a stretch.

All that wood and aluminum and the guy installs countertops salvaged from the Home Depot closeout pile. He really is a general contractor.

I would have gone with cracked ice Formica with chrome edges, personally, but, I guess it works

I see a lot of beauty in function, but IDK if I can go along with calling that gorgeous. It’s a quonset hut on wheels. And I love quonset huts, but I would never call them gorgeous. No matter how well trimmed the interior is.

That is gorgeous and, considering what people pay for RVs made out of landfill material in a manner matching the quality of the materials, it doesn’t seem unreasonably expensive to me. This is like a professionally restored old wood Chris Craft or Century vs a new Pro Line or Bayliner.

While I have no interest in RVs or campers and the whole idea of traveling in them is kind of horrifying to me (except this one—this one I get), I very much enjoy reading your articles about the weirdos, the especially egregious junkers, and the beauties like this.

Imagine waking up to the sun streaming through the porthole onto the lush paneling. Talk about morning wood!

You’re gonna need to keep your wood polished… …frequently.

Don’t come a knockin if this trailer is rockin! ????

This 1950 Airfloat Land Yacht

Serious question: can we determine whether this is the first broadly(?)-used instance of the term “land yacht”?

It’s been part of the automotive slang lexicon for ages, often used to describe the 40ft-long two-door monstrosities of the early/mid 1970s, but I wonder if the term was in use before 1950.

The earliest use of the term might be in the 1941 comedy film Sullivan’s Travels

Wow. That is a beautiful RV. Definitely what I would consider a “work of art”.

This 1950 Airfloat Land Yacht  is another literal museum piece, and it might be one of the most gorgeous campers to have ever reached production.

https://hagerty-hdc-production.imgix.net/61ff27a6-6dec-4428-a260-2cce13730b08.jpeg

Elvis is in the wrong RV.

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Airfloat Coach Manufacturing Co

Airfloat Coach Manufacturing Co, Los Angeles, California

From Joe Peplinski – Airstream Club Historian:

I believe the claim that Airfloat started in 1930 may not be correct and the noted single factory location at 1600 E. 7 th  St.  is definitely not correct.  The earliest Airfloat ads in the L.A. Times that I was able to find (see attached) were dated in June 1935. The Airfloat factory address is 720 S. Lake St. in those June 1935 to April 1937 L.A. Times ads, but that address was a parking for a Switzer’s Ladies’ Apparel Shop on 1930 and 1931 and was something else altogether by November 1938.  Unless other evidence exists, I suspect that Airfloat likely began in 1934 or early 1935 and it seems that starting in mid-April 1937 Airfloats were sold by dealers, not at the factory lot and that by late 1938 the Airfloat factory likely had moved from 720 S. Lake Street to a currently unknown other location (possibly 1600 E Seventh St., but so far unconfirmed). There was an Airfloat displayed at the April 1936 (3 rd  annual) Outing Show at the Automobile Club of Southern California, which is sometimes mis-identified as simply the 1936 LA Trailer show, but in reality was the Outing Show that was about all types of outdoor activities.  There is too little information available to know if an Airfloat was displayed at the 1934 or 1935 LA Outing shows (maybe yes, maybe no).  At the 1936 Outing Show, an Airfloat was displayed right next to the first Airstream Clipper (that had been completed in January 1936). I have not studied Airfloat in the 1940s and 1950s other than to accidentally discover that there were Airfloats delivered to the FSA Camp at San Diego along with Airstreams in or after April 1941 while doing Airstream research.  The photos of Airfloats in this camp were taken in May 1941″ —

Omar Suttles put the Airfloat travel-trailer into production in Los Angeles in the 1930’s. His port-hole window Airfloat Trailer Coach is one of the oldest names in the history of American trailer coach manufacturing. Airfloat built trailers at its 1600 East Seventh St. location in downtown Los Angeles. In 1942 Airfloat began offering a 24 ft. model called the Commodore 3rd Wheel which was fitted with a front wheel. This ingenious device, invented by Suttles himself and marketed by Atwood Manufacturing, consisted of one or two wheels attached to the underside of the tongue and coupler which greatly reduced the tongue weight on the tow vehicle. They are also called “dolly” and “Slimp” wheels. Third wheels became standard equipment on all Airfloats from about 1947, continuing though 1955, except on their smallest model introduced in 1951, the Skipper.

Also, from 1947 on, the company switched from using Masonite to aluminum for the exterior skin, with corrugated panels above and below flat areas that ran along the windows. In addition, 1947 was the first year that the yacht-style, “double-door” system to separate the rear bedroom from the rest of the coach was introduced. There are no bedroom doors, per se, however when rearward closet doors on both the street side and curb side are opened at the same time they come together in the center of the coach to magically become the bedroom doors. Airfloat coach was one of the most expensive post-war trailer coaches available.

It was actually an Airfloat coach that was the inspiration for the original book “The Long, Long, Trailer” by Clinton “Buddy” Twiss. In 1949 Mr. and Mrs Twiss purchased a 28 ft. Landyacht for their Great Adventure. However, a 1953 Redman New Moon 32′ was used in the 1954 film of the same name, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Airfloat Coach Company’s 25th Anniversary came in 1955 and to mark this momentous occasion Airfloat began anodizing the exterior aluminum of some trailers in a gold color. By 1957 all Airfloats were gold anodized. In addition, in an apparent effort to provide more light and air, and because the port-hole windows never opened, the company added more and more square windows which opened for ventilation.

In 1956 Suttles retired and Airfloat produced its last trailer in 1957.

Omar Suttles was inducted into the Rv/MH Hall of Fame in 1974. He was one of the founders of the TCA – Trailer Coach Association, a predecessor of the RVIA – Recreational Vehicle Industry Association

Years built

The Airfloat Trailer Coach Company

Master  17ft,  Commander  17ft,  President  18ft,  Custom  20ft

Master  17ft,  President  18ft,  Custom  20ft

Master  17ft,  President  18ft,  Senator  19ft,  Admiral  21ft,  Commodore  24ft

Admiral  21ft,  Commodore  24ft

From 1943 through 1945 Airfloat only built coaches for the war effort in the breadloaf style.

Landyacht  20ft,  Landyacht  23ft

Landyacht 20  24ft,  Landyacht 22  26ft,  Landyacht 24  28ft

Skipper  17ft,  Custom Landyacht  28ft

Skipper  18ft,  Navigator  20ft,  Custom Landyacht  28ft,  Flagship  35ft

Skipper  18ft,  Navigator  20ft,  Cruiser  25ft,  Custom Landyacht  28ft,  Flagship  35ft

Navigator  20ft,  Jr. Landyacht  20ft,  Cruiser  25ft , Landyacht  28ft,  Landyacht  30ft,  Flagship  35ft

Navigator  20ft,  Landyacht  30ft,  Flagship  35ft,  Presidential Landyacht  45ft

Pictures/Videos

1955 Airfloat Cruiser

1957 Airfloat Landyacht

1957 AIRFLOAT

Be a high roller: Step inside Airfloat’s “Flagship” model and into Las Vegas circa 1957. In it’s day, this enormous trailer was the pinnacle of elegance and amenities in travel trailers in the 1950’s. Sit back and listen to the Rat Pack on an original phonograph.

Some owners

1950 Airfloat  http://dougsvintagetrailers.com/trailers

1955 Airfloat Navigator  http://www.vintage-vacations.com/1955_airfloat_navigator.htm

1956 Airfloat  http://www.pbase.com/orangecones/airfloat

Henry Wallace’s 1938 Airfloat  http://www.thewallacecollection.net/html/1938_airfloat.html

Airfloat Flagship  http://www.flickr.com/photos/stimpson5000/3350072553/

1950 Airfloat  http://dougsvintagetrailers.com/1950_airfloat_

1956 Airfloat Land Yacht  http://everyonecandance.com/56_Airfloat.html

1948 Airfloat 28ft https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0817-300272/1948-airfloat-28-travel-trailer/

Clubs/Links

Vintage Airfloat specifications

https://www.facebook.com/Airfloattrailers/

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The Airfloat Land Yacht

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Re: The Airfloat Land Yacht

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1952 Airfloat

This 1952 Airfloat is a client restoration done for Waypoint Ventura, a vintage trailer hotel located in California. The Airfloat marks the fifth Flyte Camp trailer added to their unique vacation experience. The trailer was completely restored from the frame up.

The Airfloat was completely disassembled with the shell in place. There were two panels that needed repair, but the aluminum was left very close to original. The outer metal was given a wash to reinvigorate the original shine. A navy colored stripe and accessories complete the Airfloat’s nautical theme. With the outside ready to shine, the work started on the inside from the bottom with a new subfloor. Marmoleum’s Vivace in Agate created a colorful and vibrant design up close, but blended well into the trailer complimenting the other accents. 

The interior paneling was created with a high gloss interior finish on ribbon-cut sapele. The darker tones set the tone for relaxation while the countertops in Marmoleum’s Fresco Blue keep the beachy vibe of the hotel. In the front, an L- shaped sectional welcomes guests to have a seat and rest up for their next activity. The durable faux leather in Dark Sapphire Sierra Soft was created specifically for withstanding high traffic environments: perfect for this application.

The galley kitchenette was designed to accommodate overnight guests with an under-counter microwave and simple amenities. A shallow open shelf above the galley was created with the intention of offering coffee cups and wine glasses. A glass-front beverage fridge below waits to be filled with refreshments. Across from the counter, a bar height table promises a view out the window while dining. 

In the bathroom, Corian was used for the countertops and shower pan. There is a full size shower with separate entrance from the vanity/main bathroom area. A Fantastic Fan provides ventilation. A generous amount of light in these compact spaces is provided by the porthole windows. 

As you walk into the bedroom you pass a full length open closet with a top shelf for extra linens. To the left, on the bedroom side of the closet, a couple of shelves offer a place to deposit suitcases. A full size bed with dual nightstands is placed strategically to allow space for walking around the bed on both sides. 

Equipped with an A/C unit/heat pump, it’s sure to be a cool retreat from the local weather. As the trailer was delivered before they were ready to install it, the finishing touches such as blinds, mattress and other welcoming items had to wait. We are looking forward to seeing this trailer available to rent. 

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1950 Airfloat Land Yacht

• Thread starter Turboomni
• Start date Jun 18, 2018
• Jun 18, 2018

Old Man with a Hat

Senior Member

Nice enough to live in.  

• Jun 19, 2018

Ross Wooldridge

Gorgeous!  

75LandYacht

Stunning and very classy.. I wish......  

crv said: Nice enough to live in. Click to expand...

cm23uoc said: My original plan for housing actually was buying an old large brick storage or small factory building, roll a big old Caravan inside and live between cars and Tools. The wive didn't Play along of course. Click to expand...

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A Look at Golden age of Air Travel in the 1950s

Air travel in the 1950s was marked by a significant increase in the number of people flying, as well as advancements in aircraft technology and infrastructure. The decade saw the introduction of jet airliners, which greatly increased the speed and efficiency of air travel. The first commercial jet airliner, the de Havilland Comet, was introduced in 1952, followed by the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 in the late 1950s. These new jet airliners allowed airlines to offer faster, more comfortable, and more convenient flights, and they quickly became popular with passengers.

During the 1950s, air travel was still considered a luxury, but it was becoming more affordable and accessible to the general public. Airlines offered more flights and destinations than ever before, and air travel was becoming more common for both business and leisure. Many airlines also began to offer vacation packages, which included airfare, accommodations, and activities, making it even easier for people to travel.

Passenger services during this time continued to improve, with in-flight meals, drinks, and entertainment becoming more common. Airlines also began to offer different classes of service, with first-class offering more luxurious amenities than economy class. Flight attendants were also becoming more commonplace, and their role expanded to include safety, customer service, and in-flight service.

The flight crews of the 1950s were composed of highly trained and experienced pilots, navigators, and radio operators. With the introduction of jet airliners, the flight crews were also larger than before, with a pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, navigator, and sometimes a flight attendant as a standard crew.

#1 A female instructor stands at a chalkboard, pointing to a chalk diagram of an airplane while female students take notes at their desks during a stewardess training school, 1950.

#2 Luggage being unloaded from airplane, 1950s

#3 Luggage being unloaded from airplane, 1950s

#4 A Pan American World Airways flight attendant preparing in-flight meals in the galley of an airliner, 1950s

#5 A bus in bus docks at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal. The docks are open on one side to permit exhaust fumes to escape, 1950s

#6 Passengers checking in at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal, 1950s

#7 Passengers checking in their baggage at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal, 1950s

#8 Passengers checking in their baggage at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal, 1950s

#9 New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal which operates on a 24-hour basis to provide transportation to every flight leaving from the city’s various airports, 1955.

#10 A TWA pilot and stewardess greet the passengers coming off the plane, 1950

#11 PanAm Boeing 747

#12 A view from the control tower of the Greater Cincinnati Airport

#13 American Airlines

#14 Boeing 707 and 720

#15 Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Columbia, SC

#16 Continental 747 Ponape Lounge, Airline Attendant

#17 Continental Airlines, 1950s

#18 Continental Airlines, 1950s

#19 DC-6 Mainliner United Airlines 48

#20 Delta Airlines Convair 880

#21 Delta Airlines, 1950s

#22 Eastern Airlines Falcon Lounge, 1950s

#23 Houston International Airport, 1950s

#24 Moisant International Airport, New Orleans, 1950s

#25 Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) Electra Jet, 1950s

#26 Pan Am Airlines, 1950s

#27 United Air Lines DC-6 and DC-6B Mainliners, 1950s

#28 United Airlines DC6 Airplane Meal Service Club Car Section, 1950s

#29 United Airlines Red Carpet Service, 1950s

#30 United Airlines, 1950s

#31 United Airlines, 1950s

#32 Western Airlines, 1950s

#49 An air steward serves a plate of grapes to a female passenger from a basket of fruit on a Bristol Britannia medium to long range airliner in October 1956.

#50 Passengers board BOAC’s new Britannia propellerturbine airliner GANBI at London Airport, bound for Johannesburg, on 1st February 1957.

#51 Trainee BOAC cabin crew members simulate being passengers in a replica of a Hermes aircraft during their training near Heston Airport, Middlesex, in 1958.

#52 Two air hostesses welcome a passenger boarding a Swiss Air aircraft at London Airport in the 1950s.

#53 Passengers relax on a flight in 1950.

#54 The flight crew reviews the passenger list of a British West Indian Airlines plane at Piarco International Airport in Piarco, Trinidad, British West Indies, in 1952.

#55 A Panagraoperated passenger plane takes off from Cochabamba, Bolivia in 1955.

#56 Tourists raise Mexican sombreros before boarding a Canadian Pacific jet in Mexico in 1950.

#57 Arthur Parkes, a television engineer, proves that aircraft can receive television transmissions up to a height of 12,000 feet, confounding the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1955.

#58 A Concorde fuselage test is conducted on May 17th, 1954.

#59 A female soldier knits while traveling to a military base on a plane, as seen in a Cosmopolitan magazine photo.

#60 A Comet airplane is pictured in 1950.

#61 A PAA Atlantic Division stewardess serves breakfast in bed to a female passenger during a transatlantic flight in 1952.

#62 A TWA pilot and stewardess greet passengers disembarking from a plane in the 1950s.

#63 Passengers and a stewardess are pictured aboard a TU114 airliner, which was the world’s largest at the time, in 1959.

#64 A couple is seen aboard a British Overseas Airways Corporation plane in 1958.

#65 A BOAC airline stewardess serves breakfast in bed to a passenger on a BOAC Speedbird Stratocruiser in 1952.

#66 A Bristol Superfreighter aircraft carries cars on crossChannel flights operated by Silver City Airways from their own airport in Ferryfield near the town of Lydd in 1955.

#67 Air hostesses are captured serving passengers on a plane in 1955.

#68 Air hostess Irene Mallory is seen serving food to passengers on her trolley in 1955.

#69 Passengers are depicted on a transSiberian flight on board a TU104 airliner in July 1956.

#70 A secretary from KLM is captured doing dictation on board a KLM passenger plane at Frankfurt Airport in January 1955.

#71 The Basilica of St. Pius is inaugurated in Lourdes, France on March 25, 1958. The underground hall spans 14,000 square meters of concrete beneath the plaza.

#72 A group of airline stewardesses pose inside the luxurious mockup of the Boeing Jet Stratoliner, which will enter service with airlines worldwide in 1959.

#73 Kentucky Colonel Ward Elmore, who is one of 25 people from the Laguna Honda Home in San Francisco, makes his first plane flight on August 22, 195?, and also celebrates his first 100 years.

#74 In October 1956, a male air steward prepares a tray of food in the galley for passengers on board a Bristol Britannia medium to long range airliner.

#75 Ginger Rogers, a famous screen actress, and her husband, French actor Jacques Bergerac, arrive at ParisOrly airport after flying from the United States.

#76 The first passengers of the world’s inaugural jet service board their plane bound for Johannesburg, while nearby reporters capture the event.

#77 Passengers get ready to nap on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid1950s. Transocean Air Lines was a pioneer discount airline that operated between 1946 and 1962.

#78 Passengers are depicted on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid1950s.

#79 An air hostess engages in conversation with passengers on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid1950s.

#80 The first British Comet jet passenger service from London Airport to Johannesburg is shown in this photo from 1952.

#81 Passengers bound for Johannesburg board the inaugural British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) De Havilland Comet jet airliner at London Airport, marking the world’s first regular jet service.

#82 The SaundersRoe SR45 Princess passenger flying boat prototype, GALUN, emerges from its hangar at the SaundersRoe Cowes facility on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom on October 31, 1951.

#83 Yankee catcher Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto play cribbage while waiting for chartered TWA flights to take off amidst a railroad strike.

#84 Evacuees from Baghdad are about to board a flight at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey on July 25, 1958.

#85 Passengers disembark from a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Canadair C4 Argonaut aircraft onto a shuttle bus at London Airport in June 1951.

#86 The BOAC Comet is seen taxiing on the runway at London Airport before flying to Johannesburg, marking the world’s first jet passenger service.

#87 Travellers sleep on board an airplane in New York, as seen in this 1950 photo from Picture Post.

#88 Britishborn American actress Liz Taylor arrives at New York International Airport with fellow actresses Grace Kelly and Lorraine Day in 1955.

#89 In October 1956, a male air steward and female air stewardess serve food and drinks from a trolley to passengers on board a Bristol Britannia medium to long range airliner.

#90 A passenger on board the world’s first jet airliner service receives luncheon from E Courtney, a member of the cabin crew. The Comet flight is headed for South Africa.

#91 Passengers boarding the jet service to Paris from the Pan American World Airways 707 Jet Clipper, which inaugurated the airline’s Trans Atlantic services to London on October 26, 1958.

#92 Passengers enjoying a meal inside a mock-up of the Boeing 707 Stratoliner. The development of the Stratoliner began in the 1950s during the race to capture the commercial airline market.

#93 Passengers dining on the Empire in 195.

#94 Passengers playing on the Empire in 1950.

#95 A couple on a plane in 1955.

#96 On August 7, 1959, an air stewardess serves food to passengers on board a Qantas Boeing 707 plane at London airport.

#97 In the 1950s, an interior view of a commercial passenger plane shows a flight attendant pouring a glass of wine for a man who sits next to a couple who are toasting each other with full glasses.

#98 In 1957, a view of airline passengers is seen along the center aisle of a plane. Many of the passengers are refugees from the failed Hungarian Revolution and are on their way to the United States.

#99 Passengers enjoying a relaxing smoke on a Transocean Air lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid-1950s. Transocean Air lines was a pioneer discount airline that flew between 1946 and 1962.

#100 A stewardess serves drinks while passengers have lunch aboard a BEA Vickers Viking passenger plane in 1958.

#101 In 1955, an interior view of the passenger cabin of a Douglas DC-7 Mainliner airplane shows a pair of flight attendants serving travelers.

#102 In the mid-1950s, an air hostess serves a snack to passengers on a Transocean Air lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. Transocean Air lines was a pioneer discount airline that flew between 1946 and 1962.

#103 This Vickers Viscount airliner was a surprise visitor to Woolsington (Newcastle Airport), having arrived from London with passengers due to a rail strike in 1955.

#104 Passengers relaxing on the sleeper seats during a demonstration flight of the new Comet 4 at Hatfield in 1958.

#105 In the 1950s, an interior view of the first-class compartment of a commercial passenger plane shows a flight attendant bending forward to adjust the seat of a sleeping man.

#106 In the 1950s, a first-class compartment of a commercial passenger plane shows a well-dressed couple in the foreground smiling and enjoying their meal, while behind them a flight attendant in a bow tie serves another happy couple.

#107 In the 1950s, an interior view of a commercial passenger plane shows a woman contemplating a move in a checkers game she is losing to a young girl, while a man with a cigarette watches them.

#108 Passengers on a Transocean Air lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid-1950s. Transocean Air lines was a pioneer discount airline that flew between 1946 and 1962.

#109 Passengers prepare to take a nap on a Transocean Air lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid-1950s. Transocean Air lines was a pioneer discount airline that flew between 1946 and 1962.

#110 Passengers on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid 1950s enjoy a light snack served by a friendly air hostess. Transocean Air Lines was a pioneering discount airline that operated between 1946 and 1962.

#111 During a flight on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the mid 1950s, an air hostess takes time to chat with passengers and ensure their comfort during the flight.

#112 Passengers take a moment to relax and enjoy a cigarette on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser flight in the mid 1950s. Transocean Air Lines was a pioneering discount airline that operated between 1946 and 1962.

#113 An attentive air hostess serves passengers in the observation area of a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser during a flight in the mid 1950s.

#114 Passengers are treated to excellent service on a Transocean Air Lines Boeing 377 Stratocruiser flight in the mid 1950s as an air hostess serves refreshments in the observation area. Transocean Air Lines was a pioneering discount airline that operated between 1946 and 1962.

#115 Luggage being unloaded from airplane, 1950s

Written by Aurora Hale

I am a blogger, entrepreneur and small business coach. I'm an introvert and cat lover. My favourite hobbies are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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