Existing comment:
What Was It Like To Fly?
Novel and exciting; loud and uncomfortable-an experience few people ever got to relish or regret.
In the early years of flight, pilots and the occasional passenger sat in open cockpits exposed to wind and weather. Even in Europe, where large transports carried passengers in comparative luxury, the ride was harsh, loud, and uncomfortable.
An Air Mail Pilot's Wings
Air mail pilots wore heavy flight suits instead of uniforms, but they were issued badges or wings for identification, as in this photo of pilot Wilfred A. "Tony" Yackey. Northwest Airlines still issues similar wings to its pilots. |