Video: Flying And The American Businessman - Circa 1953 (Better Back Then?)
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 07:12AM
In many ways I'm very old-fashioned... this video is a really good example. It's 13 minutes long and a little slow paced, so don't expect to be taken on a wild ride. But, it's a fascinating look into the past and I say it's more than worth experiencing.
I think 'modern' 1953 is about 18 times cooler than modern 2014. There's a general style and a sense of design that simply blows our modern world out of the water. You might disagree with me, seems many people do on this issue, but I'd much rather be living there than here.
Interestingly, the Piper Tri-Pacer seen in this film is a strong reminder to me that the tricycle gear airplane was quickly becoming mainstream in general and business aviation in the early 50's, and in my mind, it's been a long slow slide downhill ever since.
Fortunately for the modern world, homebuilt and aerobatic aircraft have kept the taildragger alive and well. But even the tricycle gear airplanes in this film feel like they have boatloads more style than our modern aircraft. I think a lot of it is simply the paint. Classic aviation made airplanes look good with color. That's another area where homebuilt and aerobatic aircraft have continued the traditions of the past.
I've said all this before: Can The Right Coat Of Paint Save General Aviation In America?
Video screenshot of a student and instructor in a Cessna 170 back in 1953
Reader Comments (1)
A much better time in our history. I spent countless hours at Zahn's Airport in Amityville, N.Y., while my dad got his land rating 1954, watching all these planes, wishing I could fly and own one. Years later got my wish.