Travel Airs

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Moored on Seattle's Lake Union, a Model 6000 of Bristol Bay Air Service awaits a long flight to Alaska.

Moored on Seattle’s Lake Union, a Model 6000 of Bristol Bay Air Service awaits a long flight to Alaska.

Same lake, possibly same aircraft.

Same lake, possibly same aircraft.

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The first Type R "Mystery Ship". This aircraft is now on display at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.

The first Type R “Mystery Ship”. This aircraft is now on display at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.

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Model 5000, "Oklahoma" was an entry in the famous 1927 Dole Air Race to Hawaii (it didn't complete the race).

Model 5000, “Oklahoma” was an entry in the famous 1927 Dole Air Race to Hawaii (it didn’t complete the race).

“Miss Sonic Boom”

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According to this photo’s caption, actress Debra Paget was in Las Vegas, and when asked if she would like a tour of nearby Nellis AFB she simply could not resist. (Obviously, she would only take part in the tour if she could wear a bathing suit and high heels.) Upon her arrival, the Nellis pilots were so impressed with their visitor that they immediately named her “Miss Sonic Boom.” Miss Paget/Sonic Boom was quite the starlet back in the day featuring in films like The Ten Commandments and a movie opposite Elvis. She is now 90 years old.

The “Ideal costume for Aviator”

Dreadnaught Safe Suit 1919

Such survival suits are still in use today with the Air Force, Navy, etc. (“Poopy Suits,” we called them). This ad poses a bit of a question: what type of mechanical difficulties might necessitate “getting into cold water” some “10 miles off coast” to effect repairs to your aircraft? You would be in the open sea; what are you going to fix bobbing around like a cork? But this ad dates from 1919; flying machines had a bad habit of suddenly not working, and one had to be ready for anything.