Page 24 - All About History - Issue 27-15

Tourism

LUXURYTRAVELFORTHEFORTUNATE

FEW,1949-63,USA

The first scheduled commercial airline flight took place on
1 January 1914, when American pilot Tony Jannus carried a
passenger across Tampa Bay in his Benoist XIV biplane. Over
the space of four months, 1,200 passengers took the 23-minute
flight across the bay, each paying $5 for the privilege. In 1925,
the Ford Motor Company bought the Stout Aircraft Company –
whose planes were originally used for transporting mail – and
began construction of the Ford Trimotor, which was the first
successful American airliner at a 12-passenger capacity. At
around the same time, Juan Trippe established Pan American
Airways, which was the first US airline to go international.
Their first planes, Boeing Clippers, were seaplanes that flew
between the USA and Europe. In 1945, they placed the largest
commercial aircraft order in history for 20 Boeing 377
Stratocruisers – a luxurious propeller-driven plane that had
several innovative features including two passenger
decks, pressurised cabins and air conditioning. They
were eventually superseded by jet aircraft, but at
the time of service their spacious cabins were
the epitome of modern travel.

Flight Deck
The crew on Boeing Stratocruisers had more space
than ever before. Designers arranged seating, controls,
equipment and instruments in a way that made it easier
for crew members to work together and move around.

Baggage

Aft luxury
compartment
Designed for business
travel or families, the
compartment carried
up to five passengers Dressing room
and featured private Unlike modern single-occupancy WCs,
sleeping berths. the ladies’ powder room had a sofa, two
dressing tables, full-length mirrors and a
separate dental basin.

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