Mid-20th Century Aircraft

Classic aircraft images capturing passengers, airlines, and vintage designs, illustrating the evolution of mid-century aviation.

High angle view of passengers disembarking from an airplane

High angle view of passengers disembarking from an airplane

Anefo photo collection. DC 8 painted with inscriptions viasa. March 28, 1961

New High Speed Jet Bomber Has Sweptback Wings -- As large as B-29 Superfortress, this new Boeing XB-47 rolled out of hangar today is powered with six jet engines. The Army Air Forces and Boeing call it a "radical new experimental design" with the inverted wings and tail surfaces. Ground and taxing tests starts soon. September 29, 1948. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

VH - TAM Landshorough TAA Airlines. September 29, 1948.

Qantas Constellation Charles Kingsford Smith which left Mascot early this morning for a proving flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. July 25, 1952. (Photo by Kenneth Issitt).

Anefo photo collection. Commissioning runway 06-24 (3,300 m long) at Schiphol. April 14, 1960. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Airplane on a runway

Hughes Flying Boat Floated! Howard Hughes' huge flying boat floats quietly in Los Angles harbor water after being floated out of the dry dock for the first time. The builder and his assistants are barely visible a top the broad back of the world's largest airplane. The eight big engines with four-bladed propellers are dwarfed by the immensity of the giant hull. Drydock can be seen in background. January 11, 1947. (Photo by Dave Cicero, International News Photo ).;Hughes Flying Boat Floated! Howa

Britannia Airliners Arrive To Go Into Service With Boac -- Arriving at London Airport today (Friday) is the first of two Bristol Britannia 100 turbo-prop airliners being delivered to go into service with British Overseas Airways Corporation.The planes, with an overall certificate of airworthiness had been folgen from the Filton, Bristol, aerodrome of their makers, the Bristol Aeroplane Company. They are the World's first turbo-prop long-range civil transport planes. December 30, 1955. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Lates DC6-B skychief airliner of the A.N.A. fleet, Kwinana, which flew into Brisbane airport yesterday with 58 passengers on a "show the flag" flight. The Kwinana is five feet longer than the normal DC-6. April 01, 1955.

Sydney Week And Weather -- Qantas Constellation which diverted to Brisbane on today when closed & later came on to Sydney Friday night circled city 3/4 hour another sent back to Brisbane finally put down on Saturday 28 hour behind schedule. Throws up spray form water legged down as it lands. March 12, 1949. (Photo by Brown/Fairfax Media).

Aero Spacelines B377SGT Super Guppy on Ramp Loading the X-24B and HL-10 Lifting Bodies for Transportation to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

"Flying Dutchman" For Air Race -- The largest aircraft in the forth coming London to Christchurch (New Zealand) Air Race will be this "Flying Dutchman" - a DC-6A Liftmaster - entered by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. There will be 64 passengers aboard this plane, the "Dr. Ir M.H. Transport Handicap Section of the race. Ten will compete in the speed section. September 21, 1953. (Photo by United Press Photo).

Anefo photo collection. Order Telegraaf Agriculture at Schiphol. December 8, 1964. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

High angle view of an airplane at an airport, Douglas DC-7

Last night the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh left London Airport on the first stage of their historic, six-months tour of the Commonwealth. The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret wave goodbye as the B.O.A.C. Stratocruiser Canopus leaves London Airport taking the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Bermuda. November 24, 1953. (Photo by Daily Mirror).

New French Jet Airliner -- The prototype of the Caravelle, the new French airliner seen during its first flight over Toulouse. Powered by two Rolls-Royce jet engines, it weighs about 40 tons and can carry 70 passengers. Departing from usual procedure, the jets are placed well in the rear. May 30, 1955.

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Boeing Model 299 Fortress. Fortress Mark IIA, FL459 J, of No. 220 Squadron RAF, preparing to taxy at Benbecula, in the Outer Hebrides. This aircraft sank two U-boats (U624 and U707) and shared in the sinking of another (U575) during its period of service with the squadron. The aerials of the ASV II radar with which FL459 is equipped are clearly visible on the nose and under the starboard wing.

Vintage Photograph. Planes parked at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

Anefo photo collection. Arrival French painters with double deck plane Schiphol. April 27, 1956

Vintage photograph. Lockheed Super Constellation with turbo compound engine flies nearly 4,000 miles without refueling and carries up to 94 passengers

D.C.3 aircraft at Mascot prior to departure on first flight of Sydney-New Gunea service. April 2, 1945. (Photo by Richard McKinney, Qantas Empire Airways Limited).

A Comet jet airliner in flight. February 23, 1953. (Photo by Canadian Pacific Railway).

Italy. lombardia. somma lombardo. malpensa. 1950-1960.

Comet II Home After Trails -- The de Havilland Comet II, piloted by John Cunninggham, coming in at the Company's airfield at Matfield on the completion of tropical trials. It set up a new record for a ***** by flying from Khartoum to Tome in 5hrs. 20 mins. October 07, 1955.

Photo collection prints Anefo Rousel. Series Print Anefo RVD Own Without Caption. Collection of photo collection prints Anefo Rousel, photo number 157-0855. 1956

Anefo photo collection. Czech Tupolev at Schiphol. July 30, 1961

Vintage Photograph. Boeing 707 Commercial Airplane in flight. Frame 4

Royal Air Force Ferry Command, 1941-1943. Consolidated B-24D Liberators undergoing conversion to RAF Mark III standard outside the Scottish Aviation Ltd works at Prestwick, Ayrshire, after being ferried across the Atlantic. The American Martin tail turrets have been removed and are being replaced by Boulton and Paul turrets mounting .303 machine guns.

Consolidated Vultee B-36. Consolidated Vultee B-36. "MAINTENANCE: REFUELINGConsolidate Vultee B-36, the world's largest land based bomber, is refueled at Fort Worth, Texas.". 1940 - 1980. National Archives at College Park - Archives II (College Park, MD). Negative. Department of Defense. Department of the Air Force. 9/26/1947-. Color Photographs of U.S. Air Force Activities, Facilities, and Personnel, Domestic and Foreign

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Boeing Model 299 Fortress. Fortress Mark IIA, FK197, outside the Scottish Aviation workshops at Prestwick, Ayrshire, where it was being fitted with special wireless equipment. This aircraft eventually served as a GR Mark IIA with No. 251 Squadron RAF, which undertook meteorological reconnaissance flights from Reykjavik, Iceland in late 1945.

411 Convair 30. August 19, 1954.

Food For Berlin -- Aircraft carrying supplies being unloaded at Tempelhof airport.The air relief of the 2,500,000 Germans of the Western sector of Berlin, out off by the Russians from food supplies is now in full swing.R.A.F. Dakotas and Yorks today begamto land food at the rate of 14 an hour. July 13, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Anefo photo collection. Arrival first KLM DC8 at Schiphol, the great interest on the platform. March 25, 1960. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Anefo photo collection. Remains of C. Palm at Schiphol. July 25, 1960

Boeing 17C Airplane

Vintage Photograph. Passengers boarding Pan American Boeing 707 on tarmac. Frame 3

High angle view of a military airplane, C-130E Hercules

Anefo photo collection. Arrival Russian jet plane at Schiphol. July 7, 1958

Qantas DC-4 SkymasterEngines: Four 1450 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R.2000-D5.Passenger capacity: 50.Cruising Speed: 210 m.p.h.Registration Nos.: VK-EBK, L, M, N, O, P. VH-EDA, VH-EDB.Routes flown: Australia/Singapore; Australia/Norfolk Island; Australia/New Guinea, Australia/Singapore; Australia/Noumea; Australia/New Zealand. Introduced into company's service in 1949. January 01, 1949. (Photo by Qantas Photograph).

A plane taxiing off to the main runway at the municipal airport, in Washington, DC, July 1941

Anefo photo collection. 75 tons of heavy armagnaz plane at Schiphol (Sageta). September 27, 1955

Bungana Douglas Airlines. January 16, 1937.

A CT-39G Sabreliner of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 24 (VR-24) is washed on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Station, Sigonella State: Sicily Country: Italy (ITA)

A front view of an S-3A Viking aircraft that crash landed at the Naval Air Facility. The aircraft is assigned to Air Anti-submarine Squadron 41 (VS-41). Base: Naval Air Facility, El Centro State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Airport in Warsaw. Aircraft standing on the airport plate; Photography from the series to the photojournalism "Please open!" (from the work of the Customs Office at the Foreign Station of the Airport in Warsaw), "Świat" 1959, No. 7; Prażuch, Wiesław (1925-1992); 1959 (1959-00-00-1959-00-00);

Flying Railway Coach...... -- Looking like a flying railway coach, this is the Bristol Type 173 Mark II, thirteen seater helicopter, with twin rotors. Demons ***** its paces at the show yesterday. September 8, 1953. (Photo by Paul Popper, Paul Popper Ltd.)

Return to Washington, D.C., from Palm Beach, Florida. Air Force One takes off from Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Beach, Florida.

Trail Flight Before New Zealand And Back Record Attempt -- Australian Anniversary in flight during yesterday's trail at Gravesend. Flying Officer Clouston, holder of the England-Cape back record, yesterday had a trail flight on Australian anniversary - formerly the Comet - with his flying companion Mr. Victor Ricketts, at Gravesend. They are shortly to leave or an attempt on the England and back record. January 24, 1938. (Photo by Keystone).

A left side view of a Soviet AN-22 Cock heavy transport aircraft on a runway. (Substandard image). Country: Unknown

Britain's Super Passenger Plane -- The "Brabazon Type I", as she will look in flight. The Bristol Aviation Company have new started building the type I67 or the "Brabazon Type I" Britain's super aircraft, which will have a range of 5,000 miles, at 250 miles per hour. The wing span is 230ft., length 177ft., and height over rudder 52ft. It will carry 224 passengers by day or eighty sleeping passengers. The power is provided by eight Bristol Centaurus engines, each developing over 2,500 b.h.p. The

260 - Vickers Viscount 806-810. November 10, 1955.

Paris-Saigon-Wings of Mercy. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Vintage Photograph. DC-9 Delta Airlines plane takeoff from Atlanta Georgia Airport.

B.C.P.A. Airlines. RMA Adventure. May 12, 1948.

Anefo photo collection. Strike of the KLM pilots. March 17, 1958

Collection of the Dutch Heidematschappij. Recreation sites, airports E.D., platforms, aircraft, Rotterdam airport. June 1965. Rotterdam, South Holland

Peace Plane Leaves Paris Today -- The plane chartered by the united Nations form KLM Royal Dutch airlines for Count Folke Bernadotte, Mediator in the Palestine conflict, leaves Paris on the first leg of its flight to Cairo today, May 27, the Ph-Tct, a two-motored Douglas as DC-3 is painted completely white ***** the top and bottom of both wings and on either wide of the fuselage. "United Nations," in English and French, flank the red crosses. In the the aircraft, pictured being serviced prior to leaving Amsterdam. For Paris, Bernadotte and his party are expected to travel to all the near east Countries. May 27, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Vintage photograph. Fueling wing tanks of a DC4 airliner, prior to overseas departure

DF-SN-89-09147. Base: Wichita Falls State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U-2 Spy Plane with False NASA Markings

Body For A Britannia -- Looking little more than a hollow tube, and lacking the streamlined grace of the completed airliner, is the fuselage section for a Bristol Britannia, being taken from the erecting to the assembly hall at the Bristol Aeroplane Company's Filton, Bristol, works.The various sections of the giant airliner are built separately.They are put together to make the complete airframe in the Britannia assembly hall, where the fuselage section is taken from its own erecting hall in another part of the works. February 22, 1955. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Vintage Photograph. Low angle view of an airplane flying in the sky

Sets Speed Record -- A Boeing Jet transport is the center of attention at nearby Andrews air force base today after the plane flew here from Seattle in 3 hours and 58 minutes to establish a new transcontinental record for a civilian passenger plane. The big craft flew 2,340 miles at an average speed of 592 miles an hour, according to A.M. Johnston, the pilot. October 16, 1955. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Anefo photo collection. Mexian Archbishop Dario Mirando at Schiphol, Archbishop Dario Mirando. August 28, 1964. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Landing in Djambi; Before the departure of Palembang. A Dakota taxite over the runway. On the right another Dakota. December 1948. Indonesia, Jambi, Dutch East Indies, Sumatra

Vintage photograph. US Air Force Martin XB-51 powered by three General Electric J-47 jet engines

High angle view of an airplane on a runway, Boeing 720

Checking the fuel on a plane at the municipal airport on a rainy day, Washington, DC, July 1941

Anefo photo collection. Airport Schiphol. September 15, 1972. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Vintage Photograph. Convair 990 Jet Airliner testing brakes.

Anefo photo collection. Passengers to Suriname are picked up with a British Caledonian aircraft hired by the Surinamese airline SLM after a conflict with the KLM. Loading the luggage. October 25, 1983. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Britain In Air At Farnborough -- Photographed at Farnborough, the Vickers-Armstrongs' "Valiant" long-range bomber, powered by four Rolls-Royce Avon turbo jet engines. The latest developments in British aircraft design and construction are to be seen at the Society of British aircraft Constructors Display at present being held at Farnborough. September 12, 1951. (Photo by Fox Photos).;Britain In Air At Farnborough -- Photographed at Farnborough, the Vickers-Armstrongs' "Valiant" long-range bombe

KLM device De 'Uiver', 1934 photograph Album magazine with a photo of technicians at the 'Uiver', the KLM device that in 1934 won the handicap classification of the Macrobertson London - Melbourne Air Race. Part of the memorial album of the Indies line of KLM, part I. paper. photographic support. cardboard gelatin silver print airborne traffic, aviation. travelling; tourism. aircraft, aeroplane. airfield, airport

A swift and versatile new reconnaissance bomber was added to the nation's arsenal of defense today with the first flight of the twin-jet RB-66A, built for United States Air Force by Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.Successful completion of the test hop was announced jointly by the Air Force and Douglas. At the controls of the swept-wing reconnaissance bomber, developed for the Tactical Air Command by the Douglas Long Beach Division, was George R. Jansen, company test pilot. He was accompanied by flight engineer Robert Lafey. September 01, 1954. (Photo by Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.).

An air-to-air right side view of a Tu-142 Bear F anti-submarine patrol aircraft. Country: Unknown

Poll photo collection. War volunteers in Malacca and Indonesia. Departure from a Dutch delegation with the Skymaster (DC-4, 313) from the Dutch government from Schiphol via Cairo and Calcutta to Indonesia. 13 February 1946. The Netherlands, Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Anefo photo collection. Arrival first Lockheed Electro at Schiphol. September 29, 1959. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Vickers Viscount at Essendon. October 15, 1953.;Vickers Viscount at Essendon.

A front view of a 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing C-9 Nigfhtingale aircraft on the flight line with staircase and loading ramp in position. Base: Scott Air Force Base State: Illinois (IL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Departure minister Jonkman to Indie. December 19, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Anefo photo collection. "Dock" for DC6 at Schiphol. January 9, 1950. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

State visit by Grand Duke Jan (Jean) of Luxembourg and Groothertogin Josephine, Charlotte of Luxembourg upon arrival at the Soesterberg airbase per Fokker F-27 Friendship of the Luxembourg airline Luxair.H.K.Prinses Beatrix and Prince Claus von Amsberg welcomed the guests.

Vintage Photograph. B-52 in flight.

Anefo photo collection. Visit of Veldmaarschalk Montgomery to Amsterdam (1945). Airplane lands on a runway of an aircraft. September 1, 1945

The Building's Big, But Not Big Enough - The tail structures of these early-modes B-36B air-planes are too big for the Consolidated Vultee aircraft plant here where they are being modernized into jet-augmented B-36D bombers. So the company cut circular holes in huge sliding doors for this porthole-like effect, while work proceeds on forward portions of the planes inside. October 13, 1950. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Anefo photo collection. New DC 8 63 to be used at Schiphol. On the runway. July 27, 1967. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

in crains austalia little popular plane parking in the airport

Gliders stretch as far as the eye can see. Both English and American gliders are lined up awaiting Troop Carrier C-47's to tow them into Nazi Europe. England.

Collection of the Dutch Heidematschappij. Recreation sites, airports E.D., platforms, work, airport Rotterdam. June 1965. Rotterdam, South Holland

2nd tactical airbase (2TVB), airbase Eindhoven in April 1957 buildings and infrastructure with a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire in the foreground.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,RESCUE War

Vintage Photograph. New Orleans International Airport Loading Freight at New Orleans Louisiana.

Vintage Photograph. Two Boeing 707 Commercial Airplanes in flight. Frame 1

Anefo photo collection. Extra flight supporters to the World Cup final in Argentina from Schiphol; With stickers and texts, plane in Schiphol. June 23, 1978

Britain Leads The Way In Aircraft Design. . . Contrasts in aircraft designs are demonstrated here, at a preview of the new British 'planes at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' exhibition, which opens here tomorrow, (Wednesday).In the foreground is the De Havilland "Venom" has just been taken off the ***** list.In the background is the huge de Havilland "Comet", a ***** air-liner, the world's fastest ***** aircraft. September 06, 1949.

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