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Summary: The development of powered flight from 1903 to 1939.
Description: The earliest flights were in spherical balloons. In 1903 the Wright brothers made the first flight (their Mark II Flier of 1904 is shown in flight). A 1910 Glen Curtiss Golden Flier. A 1927 Douglas M4 mail plane, the first commercial use of aircraft. A flight of four USAAC Keystone B4A bombers of 1932. A Cierva C30A autogyro taking off. A Macon giant rigid airship in flight over the California coast. A French Caudron C460 breaking the world speed record at 314mph over Los Angeles in 1936. The first long-range passenger aircraft, a Douglas DC3 Dakota of American Airlines in flight. A Short S23 flying-boat "Caledonia", which established the first passenger and mail flight from England to the USA in 1937. The latest US fighter, the Lockheed P38 Lightning, in flight. A Douglas B18 Bolo bomber taking off, followed by a flight of three in the air. A flight of three RAF Fairey Battles. A flight of four Douglas TBD1 Devastators in the air. Curtiss P40 Hawks in flight and taxiing. A Douglas DC4 prototype taxiing, the first transport aircraft with retractable tricycle undercart. A Martin M130 Clipper flying-boat in flight. Boeing B17C Flying Fortresses taking off and in flight over the coast.
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1939
Production Country: United States of America
Production Details: Hollywood Film Enterprises Incorporated (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
United States Army & Army Air Corps (regiment/service)
United States Navy & Air Corps (regiment/service)
United States Army Air Forces (regiment/service)
American Airlines (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, United States - early: Wright Mark II Flier (object name)
aircraft, United States - early: Glen Curtiss Golden Flier (object name)
aircraft, United States - transport: Douglas M4 (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Keystone B4A (object name)
aircraft, Italian - helicopter: Cierva C30A autogiro (object name)
aircraft, United States naval - airship: Macon (object name)
aircraft, French - sporting: Caudron C460 & [R and D] (object name)
recreation, French civilian - sport: air race (object name)
aircraft, United States - transport: Douglas DC3 Dakota (object name)
aircraft, British - seaplane: Short S23 (Caledonia) (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Lockheed P38 Lightning (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Douglas B18 Bolo (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Fairey Battle (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Douglas TBD1 Devastator (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Curtiss P40 Hawk (object name)
aircraft, United States - transport: Douglas DC4 & [R and D] (object name)
aircraft, United States - seaplane: Martin M130 Clipper flying boat (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (object name)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 253 ft; Running time: 11 mins