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- Henry Ford Commemorating Early Air Mail Flights during National Air Mail Week, May 18, 1938 - Twenty years after the first regularly scheduled U.S. air mail service was established, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley sponsored National Air Mail Week in 1938. Part celebration and part advertising, the event promoted the pricier service during the Great Depression. Cities throughout the country created their own special mail cachets and cancellations to mark the occasion.
- May 18, 1938
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford Commemorating Early Air Mail Flights during National Air Mail Week, May 18, 1938
Twenty years after the first regularly scheduled U.S. air mail service was established, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley sponsored National Air Mail Week in 1938. Part celebration and part advertising, the event promoted the pricier service during the Great Depression. Cities throughout the country created their own special mail cachets and cancellations to mark the occasion.
- 1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane - The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
- 1939
- Collections - Artifact
1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane
The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
- "Interior of Northwest Orient Airlines DC-6B's," circa 1955 - Northwest Airlines was established in Detroit in 1926 and relocated to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in 1933. The company grew to serve destinations around the world, especially through transpacific flights via a hub in Japan -- emphasized with "Northwest Orient" branding. Northwest merged with Delta Airlines in 2008 but continued to operate under its own name until 2010.
- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
"Interior of Northwest Orient Airlines DC-6B's," circa 1955
Northwest Airlines was established in Detroit in 1926 and relocated to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in 1933. The company grew to serve destinations around the world, especially through transpacific flights via a hub in Japan -- emphasized with "Northwest Orient" branding. Northwest merged with Delta Airlines in 2008 but continued to operate under its own name until 2010.
- Plaque Commemorating the Record Number of Hours Flown by the Douglas DC-3 - The Douglas DC-3 is one of history's most significant aircraft, with important achievements in civil and military applications. DC-3 N21728, operated by Eastern Airlines and North Central Airlines from 1939 to 1975, is a special example. The airplane logged 84,875 flight hours before being retired to The Henry Ford. It was a record for a commercial aircraft at that time.
- March 10, 1966
- Collections - Artifact
Plaque Commemorating the Record Number of Hours Flown by the Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is one of history's most significant aircraft, with important achievements in civil and military applications. DC-3 N21728, operated by Eastern Airlines and North Central Airlines from 1939 to 1975, is a special example. The airplane logged 84,875 flight hours before being retired to The Henry Ford. It was a record for a commercial aircraft at that time.
- TWA Experimental Anti-Snow Static Loop Antenna, 1937 - Airport radio navigation beacons required pilots to listen for Morse code patterns to hold the correct course--notoriously difficult during storms. In 1936, Transcontinental & Western Air introduced an anti-snow directional antenna which could be used, in high-static situations, to "home in" on airport radio signals. This loop was housed in a sleek metal enclosure, protecting it from the elements.
- 1937-1938
- Collections - Artifact
TWA Experimental Anti-Snow Static Loop Antenna, 1937
Airport radio navigation beacons required pilots to listen for Morse code patterns to hold the correct course--notoriously difficult during storms. In 1936, Transcontinental & Western Air introduced an anti-snow directional antenna which could be used, in high-static situations, to "home in" on airport radio signals. This loop was housed in a sleek metal enclosure, protecting it from the elements.
- Marimekko Elephant Plate Made for American Airlines, 1975-1980 -
- 1975-1980
- Collections - Artifact
Marimekko Elephant Plate Made for American Airlines, 1975-1980
- Handbag Carried by Northwest Orient Airlines Stewardess Judith Zeller, 1962 -
- 1962
- Collections - Artifact
Handbag Carried by Northwest Orient Airlines Stewardess Judith Zeller, 1962
- Northwest Orient Airlines Stewardess Uniform, Worn by Judith Zeller, 1960-1965 -
- 1960-1965
- Collections - Artifact
Northwest Orient Airlines Stewardess Uniform, Worn by Judith Zeller, 1960-1965
- "Get Ready. Get Set. Go. Continental" Button, circa 1985 - Continental Airlines began after Robert Six purchased the Southwest Division of Varney Speed Lines, an airmail and passenger service, in 1936. Over the next seventy years, the company expanded from its southwestern U.S. origins to fly to various points worldwide. In 2010, Continental began a merger with United Airlines. Its last flight under the Continental name came in 2012.
- circa 1985
- Collections - Artifact
"Get Ready. Get Set. Go. Continental" Button, circa 1985
Continental Airlines began after Robert Six purchased the Southwest Division of Varney Speed Lines, an airmail and passenger service, in 1936. Over the next seventy years, the company expanded from its southwestern U.S. origins to fly to various points worldwide. In 2010, Continental began a merger with United Airlines. Its last flight under the Continental name came in 2012.
- "More United Friendship" Button, 1980-1993 -
- 1980-1993
- Collections - Artifact
"More United Friendship" Button, 1980-1993