"The Stinson Model A was one of the last commercial airliners produced in the United States with a steel-tube and fabric fuselage. Although the design was already outdated by the time it was introduced in 1935, it was still a relatively successful short-range, medium-capacity, tri-motor airliner. With a cruising speed of over 160 miles per hour, it was one the fastest tri-motor airliners available at the time and nearly as fast as the Douglas DC-2, which was introduced a year earlier. During the mid-1930s, it was primarily operated by American Airlines on the carrier’s five-stop Detroit–Chicago route, and later, the Washington D.C.–Chicago route. Other operators in the U.S. included Delta Air Lines and Central Airlines. See "Aviation Evolutions: The Jim Lund 1:72 Scale Model Airplane Collection", which features more than 200 models, on display, pre-security, in the Aviation Museum. http://ow.ly/bl8650jjq5O" This was posted to our Instagram account on October 03, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357609/

"#OnThisDay Pan American World Airways acquired American Overseas Airlines (A.O.A.) from American Airlines in 1950. American Overseas Airlines started as American Export Airlines in 1937, and was purchased by American Airlines in 1945. A.O.A. was awarded routes to England, Iceland, Ireland, and other destinations in Europe. Once acquired, PAA obtained all of A.O.A. routes and assets including eight Boeing 377 Stratocruisers, seven Constellations, three DC-4s, and one DC-3. Image: American Overseas Airlines (AOA) poster, Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, late 1940s. SFO Museum Collection. 1996.48.01" This was posted to our Instagram account on September 25, 2017 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729359065/

"In 1957, BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) introduced the long-delayed, turboprop Britannia, developed and produced by the Bristol Aircraft Company of Filton, England. Initially, the fast, large-capacity, long-range airliner was operated on the airline’s London–New York route. Two years later, BOAC inaugurated the its first regular round-the-world service via San Francisco, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Overall, the Britannia performed well, yet it was plagued with engine intake icing problems. BOAC flew the Britannia for several years before replacing it with faster, more economical, long-range turbojets. Many were later sold to smaller carriers such as Eagle Airways, where the Britannia continued in operation on trans-oceanic routes. During the early 1960s, the airline, then controlled by the Cunard Steamship Company and called Cunard Eagle Airways, offered Britannia transatlantic service first to Bermuda, and shortly after, to New York. In 1965, after reorganizing as British Eagle International Airways, a Britannia inaugurated the airline’s first transatlantic passenger service between South Africa and South America. See "Aviation Evolutions: The Jim Lund 1:72 Scale Model Airplane Collection", which features more than 200 models, on display, pre-security, in the Aviation Museum. http://bit.ly/AviationEvolutions" This was posted to our Instagram account on November 09, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357395/

"The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 was an updated version of the DC-9, which was introduced in 1965. Swissair introduced the airliner in 1980. Like the DC-9, the MD-80 provided a mid-range, medium capacity airliner capable of serving short runways of small regional airports. The design was highly successful with orders from airlines the world over. American Airlines purchased a large fleet of the airliner and eventually became the world’s largest MD-80 operator. (Currently, Delta Air Lines is the largest operator.) The aircraft proved ideal for the carrier’s many mid-range, regional services during the decades of its operation. See "Aviation Evolutions: The Jim Lund 1:72 Scale Model Airplane Collection", which features more than 200 models, on display, pre-security, in the Aviation Museum. http://ow.ly/VsVQ50jV87S" This was posted to our Instagram account on December 11, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357259/

"The Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with a clean, aerodynamic fuselage and a twin tail. It was developed in response to criticism from airlines that the earlier Model 10 Electra was too small. The Model 14 had more powerful engines than the Model 10, could carry two more passengers, and featured Fowler flaps on the wings that enabled it to glide at low speed on the approach to landings. More than two hundred were built in the United States and under license in Japan. They were operated by airlines worldwide. In 1938, a modified version was flown by Howard Hughes and a crew of four to circumnavigate the northern hemisphere, covering 23,804 miles in three days and nineteen hours, a world record. See "Aviation Evolutions: The Jim Lund 1:72 Scale Model Airplane Collection", which features more than 200 models, on display, pre-security, in the Aviation Museum. http://bit.ly/AviationEvolutions" This was posted to our Instagram account on December 07, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357267/

"The Hughes H-4 flying boat, also known as the “Spruce Goose,” was designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft Company as an ultra-large, transoceanic military transport for use during World War II. The massive flying boat was the largest all-wood airplane built. It was intended to transport as many as 750 troops to the European or Pacific theaters and avoid the submarines that were sinking hundreds of transport ships during the war. It was actually constructed primarily of birch due to restrictions on the use of aluminum during the war, and weight concerns for such a large aircraft. Numerous delays prevented it from being completed before the end of the war. Its first and only brief flight was conducted #onthisday in 1947, off the coast of San Pedro, California, with Howard Hughes at the controls, David Grant as copilot, and numerous engineers, flight crew, and representatives from the press on board. The only one of its kind ever built, the prototype now resides on display in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in Oregon. See "Aviation Evolutions: The Jim Lund 1:72 Scale Model Airplane Collection", which features more than 200 models, on display, pre-security, in the Aviation Museum. http://bit.ly/AviationEvolutions" This was posted to our Instagram account on November 02, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357437/

"Hold on to your lunch! We hope you don't get motion sickness while traveling but if you do, your airplane seat always comes with a handy air sickness bag. Check out our collection spanning over 50 years of air sickness bags in our online database! http://bit.ly/2m0U7qB Image: China Airlines airsickness bag, c. 1980. Gift of The Henry Steiner Air Sickness Bag Collection. 1998.157.080" This was posted to our Instagram account on November 19, 2017 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729358893/

""Compare the Time! Compare the Cost! Here's Proof: You save dollars ... save days via TWA Sky Tourist" In the 1950s, airlines were advertising flights as cheaper and faster than other forms of traveling such as via train or bus. A trip from Los Angeles to New York only cost $99 and took 10 hours on a TWA (Trans World Airlines) Lockheed Constellation. Image: TWA (Trans World Airlines) advertisement, National Geographic, 1950s. Gift of Thomas G. Dragges in memory of Robert May. 2001.109.297" This was posted to our Instagram account on August 05, 2017 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729359217/

"Introduced on Valentine’s Day 1975, Pan American World Airways' new mix-and-match uniform was designed by multiple Academy Award-winning costumer Edith Head (1897–1981). This versatile uniform in polyester consists of a long-line cardigan-style jacket. Worn until 1980, it offered a slacks option, as well as a tunic with long sleeve blouse. Head incorporated Pan Am’s Universe Design motif seen on the belt buckle, scarf, and in the top-stitching on the felt slouch hat designed by Frank Olive (1929–1995). Image: Pan American World Airways flight attendants, Lora Reed Ford, Debbie Porter, and Vicky Hughes, 1978. Gift of World Wings International. 2012.155.003.019" This was posted to our Instagram account on July 18, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357933/

"In the 1970s, Hughes Airwest advertised itself as the “Top banana in the West” and caricatured its yellow aircraft as flying bananas on its ads and promotional materials. In 1980, it was bought by the newly formed Republic Airlines, which was formed through a merger of North Central Airlines and Southern Airways. Did you ever fly on Republic Airlines? http://ow.ly/yPyG50jiPvC Image: Republic Airlines poster, c. 1980. Gift of the William Hough Collection. 2006.010.474" This was posted to our Instagram account on October 02, 2018 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729357621/