Air Travel and Airlines
Heaton’s Aerocommuter
Back in 1974, David Heaton spent $50,000 pursuing his dream of building an "aerocommuter" -- a two-person flying saucer that would "cost no more than a medium-priced American car," thereby allowing everyone to fly to work.He claimed to have all the engineering problems worked out, but it doesn't sound like one of these things ever managed to leave the ground.
Aiken Standard - June 6, 1974
Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 27, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Air Travel and Airlines, 1970s
The Sky Is Your Target!
"Air Flash from the Joneses!" What if they had to deal with drones?
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 14, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: War, Civic Duties, Air Travel and Airlines, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #299
Not sure what the slugger prowess of stews has to do with running an airline. Nowadays, they could use a baseball bat for drunk-passenger control.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 15, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Sports, Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
Most continuous time on commercial flights
In 1978, Thomas Crowder set a record for "time spent aboard commercial planes" by traveling back and forth between 91 U.S. cities for 21 days. He never spent more than three hours on layovers between flights.As far as I can tell, Guinness never recognized this record. Nor can I find evidence that anyone has ever tried to top it.
I know that Guinness tries not to track records that encourage unhealthy or life-endangering acts. So maybe Crowder's record fell foul of this policy. Because spending 21 days sitting on commercial flights seems like a great way to develop deep vein thrombosis.
The Alexandria Town Talk - Oct 27, 1978
Mattoon Journal Gazette - Nov 2, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 16, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: World Records, Air Travel and Airlines, 1970s
Bensen Gyrocopters
Aren't drones a little wimpy, when you could be flying your own Bensen Gyrocopter?
Original ad here.
Heck, even Batman had one!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 23, 2016 -
Comments (10)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Comics, Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
Priest shoots photographer out of sky
Larry Walters gained weird-news fame in 1982 when he tied 45 helium-filled weather balloons to a lawn chair and took an unscheduled flight over Los Angeles. However, he wasn't the first person to have this kind of aerial adventure.On September 28, 1937, news photographer Al Mingalone was on assignment in Maine trying to get photos from a "balloonist's point of view." This involved using gas-filled weather balloons to lift him into the air. But with 27 balloons pulling him upwards, the safety line keeping him tethered to the ground snapped, sending him drifting across the countryside, towards the ocean.
He floated 13 miles before a local Catholic priest, Rev. James J. Mullen, who happened to be a crack rifle shot, managed to shoot enough of the balloons to bring Mingalone back to the ground.
Read a longer account of Mingalone's flight here.
The Kane Republican - Oct 2, 1937
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jul 22, 2016 -
Comments (1)
Category: Air Travel and Airlines, 1930s
Flying Wings
In some alternate timeline, the skies are full of flying wing-type airplanes.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 22, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Air Travel and Airlines, 1940s, Armed Forces
An Airplane Trip by Jet
Real meals! Plenty of leg room! A separate lounge in the front of the plane! What weird alternate world is this?!?
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 15, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
Capturing Lions by Aeroplane
"The odor of gasoline indicates great wealth and to this they show due respect." So then: nothing has changed in the Middle East in nearly 100 years!
Cautionary note: numerous lions were hurt in the making of this film.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 28, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Animals, Hunting, Trapping and Other Wilderness Activities, Air Travel and Airlines, 1920s
Airline Shirt
[Click to enlarge]
Yes, all my clothes are styled by airline companies.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 08, 2016 -
Comments (9)
Category: Fashion, Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |