Flights of Fancy

Five women pretend to be riding high over buildings and trees in this studio mock-up of an early biplane (mouse over the image to see a close-up view of the daring aeronauts and their fake flying machine ).

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

The three aerodynamic fellows who are peering over at us from this souvenir real photo postcard are pretending to fly their biplane over the thriving metropolis of Denver, Colorado, circa 1910.

Fortunately, the two aeronautical gents pictured here in this souvenir real photo postcard are safely ensconced in a photographer's studio and aren't actually risking catastrophe by flying low over the heads of oblivious beachgoers. The "Los Angeles" and "California" pennants hanging on the plane presumably identify the location.

A real photo postcard with a couple of usually down-to-earth military types mugging for the camera and pretending to drive (look at that big steering wheel!) an aeroplane.

A real photo postcard. "Lucky Lindy. Spirit of St. Louis. X211."

"Fahrt ins Blaue" is a German phrase that literally means "trip into the blue," but idiomatically it suggests something akin to "mystery tour" or "trip to nowhere in particular." This couple took such a trip in 1937, as we can see in this amusing souvenir real photo postcard (mouse over the image to see a close-up of the imaginary plane and its smiling occupants ). Does anyone recognize the location that they're flying over?

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

Looks like the skyline below the plane is intended to depict Paris. Among the recognizable landmarks are the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, and the two towers of the old Trocadéro Palace , which was demolished in 1935.

Posted to the Vintage Photos Theme Park group for "rattan/bamboo/wicker" theme week. Although the photo is obviously contrived, the gondola--with attached ropes and sandbags--looks like a real wicker basket similar in appearance to those used for hot air balloons. A real photo postcard addressed on the back to: "Mr. and Mrs. J. [Paules?], Oakryn, Pennsylvania, U.S. America." The message on the back: "Sept. 22nd, 1910. We are spending the afternoon at Zurich on our way home from Switzerland, had a lovely drive. The lady in the balloon with us is the one we have been staying with at St. Gallen. Love, Leslie and Ethel."

This real photo postcard seems similar to one of Arthur Mole 's "living photographs"--World War I-era photos "in which tens of thousands of soldiers, reservists, and other members of the military were arranged to form massive compositions." Note the biplane flying overhead and the automobile at the left. The handwritten caption at bottom appears to end with "Steve Winters, 1918," but I haven't been able to make out the first two words.

According to a brief biography posted on Dropzone.com, a skydiving Web site, Edward "Eddie" Butler was a barnstormer and stunt parachute jumper who had made over 1,600 jumps by 1934. He also worked as a parachute tester at the Switlik Parachute Co. He died in an airplane crash in 1944. This small card--about the size of a modern business card--may have been given out at parachute jumping demonstrations.

I think this was intended to be humorous at the time it was published a century ago, but I'm not sure that it seems as funny today.

The registration number--NC-14715-- that appears on the wing and tail of the airplane in the illustration on the cover of this notepaper pad identifies it as the Philippine Clipper , which was lost in the crash of Pan Am Flight 1104 in 1943. Wikipedia provides additional details: " Pan Am Flight 1104 , Trip No. 62100, was a Martin M-130 flying boat nicknamed the Philippine Clipper that crashed on the morning of January 21, 1943, in Northern California. The aircraft was operated by Pan American World Airways, and at the time of the crash was transporting ten US Navy personnel from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Francisco, California. The aircraft crashed in poor weather into mountainous terrain approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Ukiah, California, due to pilot error." Tragically, all nineteen who were on the aircraft, including the ten Navy passengers and nine crew members, perished in the crash.

"To one I love." See also Brooklyn Bridge Valentine .

Visit our Sunday-School Air Port; come on a glorious flight Far to the lands of the Bible, shining in radiant light. Straight through the heaven of beauty bathed in the sunshine of love, Come on a tour of the Bible all other journeys above! Airships are waiting and ready, the pilots are steady and true; Off we are starting next Sunday, and here is a ticket for you! Handwritten at the bottom: "Zion Lutheran Sunday School, E. Petersburg, Penna., October 27, 1929." Printed on the other side: "Here's your pass for the take-off next Sunday!" Handwritten address on the other side: "Misses Stella and Martha Weaver, R.D. #1, Manheim, Penna." Postmarked: East Petersburg, Pa., Oct 23, 1929.

From the 1950s Captain Midnight television show, starring Richard Webb as Captain Midnight, an aviator who was code-named SQ-1 and fought the bad guys as the leader of the Secret Squadron. -------- This is to certify that the undersigned is an official member of the Secret Squadron, 1955-1956. SQ 316422 ________ (Sign your name here in ink.) Important--carry this card with you at all times, Captain Midnight. Justice through strength and courage.