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I am an avid collector of intriguing old things including postcards, newspapers, photographs, advertising cards, souveniers, etc. All of the pictures in this blog are from my private collection. If you wish to enlarge any picture, simply click on it.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Early Aviation Postcards

Interesting card from 1910, only 7 years after the first powered flight.
"Brookins in the clouds"


The card states: "They have a lot a high-fliers down here. They are regular birds. Thats the Wright way to do it. Everett"



From: http://www.firstflight.org/shrine/brookins.php

Walter R. Brookins
1888 - 1953
The First Civilian Pilot, 1910

The Wright brothers realized that if the science of aviation were to develop, it would first be necessary to win public acceptance of flight throughout the United States. This required that a demonstration team be assembled to fly exhibitions. The first pilot hired for the team was Walter Richard Brookins, a Dayton native and long-time student and friend of the Wrights.

Brookins learned to fly in 1909 at the Wrights’ flight school near Montgomery, Alabama, on what is now a portion of Maxwell Air Force Base. He made his first solo flight after only two and one-half hours of instructional flying. This qualified Brookins to be appointed the Wrights' first instructor to train pilots for the new Wright Exhibition Team.

Brookins soon became one of the most legendary exhibition flyers in America, setting world records for altitude, cross-country flight and endurance. In 1910 in New Jersey, he flew to an altitude of 6,175 feet in a Wright biplane, becoming the first to fly a mile high.


This one is at the "Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida. The Sunshine City"


Here is a link to the airport preservation society.

http://www.awaps.org/history/mainhistory.asp


The card was stamped in February 1942 and addressed to Sgt. Warren F. Snowdale, 32nd Bomb Squad band, New Orleans, Louisiana. The text of the card states: "Hi Warren, Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope you're the same. How is everything? Best regards. Best of luck and happiness. So long, Emeric

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