Commercial Aviation Movies Volume 1 DVD

Description

This DVD features seven historic and interesting films from TWA, American Airlines, United Airlines, T.A.T. Maddux Airlines and Pan American.

United Airlines: Coast-to-Coast, from Air Mail to the DC-7

This movie is a treasure in uncovering the history of United Airlines. The movie begins with footage from the first air mail service between Washington and New York in 1918. President Wilson is seen officiating at this historic event. The air mail army pilots are seen consulting their maps for the inaugural air mail flight. The flight skips down the field and heads for New York. Footage from the first transcontinental air mail flight from Hazelhurt Field at Mineola, New York is shown.

Loads of great early footage is shown along with film of night operations in the very early days. Night flying became safer with more lighted fields. Planes from National Air Transport are shown being readied and loaded with mail.

We watch Bill Boeing's wife christen the first Boeing 40, the first plane designed for air mail and passengers. Boeing Air Transport operated between Chicago and San Francisco. Passengers are seen crawling into the nose of the biplane. We see a Varney Air Lines Boeing 40 loading with four passengers.

The Ford Tri-Motor finds its place in history as a fourteen passenger transport that can carry people in lounge chair comfort. The Boeing 80, the big tri-motor aircraft is shown in flight. Next we see the United Boeing 247, the first all metal, low winged, twin engine transport. Passengers are seen boarding a United Air Lines Boeing 247. It takes flight and cabin shots are shown.

The DC-3 joins the United fleet. A nice segment on a DC-3 flying over the Golden Gate Bridge is shown. The DC-4 enters service as the C-54 for military operations.

In 1947 the DC-6 enters service. Passengers are seen climbing stairs and entering the United DC-6 for takeoff. Great shots of the United DC-6 in flight are shown over puffy clouds. In 1954 the DC-7 comes on the scene and leads the way for United Air Lines. Lots of views of the United Air Lines DC-7 in operation. We see the huge United logo under the wings of the plane while it is flying. Runtime is 19 minutes.

Routes of American Airlines (circa 1970s)

A unique American Airlines film that helps to introduce us to interesting spots along their routes. We get a close look at Greenfield Village near Detroit, including the Suwanee paddlewheel steamboat. Next stop is in San Antonio, Texas where we get a close look at the Alamo, then off to Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. Runtime is 11 minutes .

Coast to Coast in 48 Hours (1928-1929)

Two versions of this film are presented, one is the silent version and the other is a lesser visual quality copy of the sound version. Both films are enormously interesting to aviation buffs because they feature T.A.T Maddux Air-Lines with a very young Col. Charles A. Lindbergh as Chairman of the Technical Committee of T.A.T. Maddux Airlines, Clement M. Keys, Chairman of the Board of Transcontinental Air Transport, Inc. and Jack Maddux, President of T.A.T. Maddux airlines.

T.A.T. latter went on to become part of TWA but launched the first major effort at transcontinental transportation, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Railroad. The route was from New York to Los Angles and passengers flew during the day and road the train at night. The total trip from New York to Los Angeles would require just a bit less than 48 hours.

This film features the Ford Tri-Motor aircraft "Tin Goose" and we get to see some fabulous shots of the cockpit and passenger cabin. Runtime: Sound Version: 20 Minutes, Silent Version: 34 minutes.

United Snowbirds (1972)

This is a United employees training and promotional film covering United's snowbird service catering to skiers. We see a United DC-10 in the beginning of the film and footage of skiing activity at Steamboat. Film shows United's snowbird commercials, brochures, print ads and signage. Runtime is 6 minutes.

TWA Approach Procedures (Circa 1960s)

Showing excellent 707 views and nice in-flight Boeing 707 external flight shots in TWA colors. This is a pilot's training and refresher film that was shown to TWA pilots. It gives you clear instruction in checklist procedures in combination with the flight engineer. One section of the film takes us from 18,000 feet to final approach at 14 left at Chicago O'Hare airport. The captain and first officer review the approach plate and coordinate activities. In color with a 12 minute runtime.

Preview the World with Pan American

This is a short 8mm promotional film that must have been given to potential customers. The film opens with a 707 Pan Am jet taking off on its Pacific adventures. We get to see some Pan Am destinations. Features are Hong Kong, New Zealand, Fiji, and Hawaii. Runtime: 2 minutes

In NTSC DVD format and region-free with a total run time of 102 minutes. Please note that because of the age and rarity of these films, quality can vary. Packaged in a clear plastic C-Shell case without paper graphics.