These airplanes spurred air traffic more than 60 years ago. At that time, the first turboprop machines were developed. But then the propeller aircraft were replaced by the first jets with jet engines.
In the 1950s, flying as a means of transportation was still the privilege of a few people. At that time, aircraft bore such illustrious names as Vickers Viscount, Bristol Britannia, Lockheed Elektra or Caravelle and Comet.
With the knowledge gained from the production of military aircraft for the Second World War, new aircraft types for civilian use were developed, particularly in Great Britain and the USA.
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A new feature was the introduction of pressurized cabins, which enabled cruising at higher altitudes and were therefore more comfortable for the passengers. Initially, the designers still relied on piston engines, then later on the low-vibration turboprop engines. With this principle for regional aircraft, which has proven itself to this day, a gas turbine drives the propeller.
Two airlines were often among the pioneers and first customers to order and add the new aircraft to their fleets: British European Airways (BEA) and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). The merger of the two companies in 1974 resulted in today’s British Airways.
The compilation in the photo series above shows only a few developments that have long been forgotten. On the other hand, other models developed in the United States, such as the well-known Douglas DC-7 or the Lockheed Super Constellation, are much more present in the memory.
For many aircraft enthusiasts, the “Connie” with its characteristic three-part tail unit remains the most elegant passenger aircraft of all.
You can also click through the following photo series:
– Lockheed Constellation – once the most beautiful airplane in the world
– Last trip by truck: vintage plane lands at JFK Airport
– Boeing 707: Hamburg Airport scraps historic aircraft