Today’s Poster is an advertisement for Farman’s pilot school. Farman were, of course, an aircraft manufacturer, but also an airline operator, and, as here a flying instruction organisation. This was a common pre- Great War combination, as well as straight afterwards, as here, and notably with Boeing in America operating an airline, but this was…
Tag: Inter-war
Bonny Bonney
There’s been a few ‘Google doodles‘ featuring aviators to date, and a current one features Australian Aviatrix Lores Bonney. Maude Rose ‘Lores’ Bonney, (20 November 1897 – 24 February 1994) was the first woman to fly solo from Australia to England. The image is, in fact, animated, and the background to the story of the…
Vimy Ere – Here!
Today a slightly detailed and slightly-serifed set of letters, almost an abstract design. Because also today, 100 years ago, four young men lifted off in their aircraft from Hounslow aerodrome near London at 8 am on 12 November 1919, and headed to their homeland, Australia, literally on the other side of the world. They’d just…
Plane Wallpaper
Another first today, original wallpaper Shared by Don Richardson on America in the 1940s Facebook group, this is a real insight to a really forgotten vernacular household style. Don stated: “We were repairing a water leak in our old house today and found this wallpaper way down deep!” The Statue of Liberty looks like a…
Imperial Tube
Today’s Poster has an obvious heritage, that of Henry Beck’s iconic London Underground map. Previously ‘forgotten’, it’s an interesting take on the airline and public transport route map concept; something that has much more social history than is often realised. From the new “Airline Maps: A Century of Art & Design” book, details here. There’s…
Bombay over England
Today’s Poster is a classic Shell oil item. The Smithsonian’s catalogue reads: “‘FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE LUBRICATION BY SHELL.’ Framed multi-color print advertising for Shell lubricant. Illustrated with three Bristol Bombays flying over the English countryside.” Artist Karl Felkel (Austrian, 1896–1973). James Kightly, Vintage Aero Writer. Source, National Air and Space Museum here.
Sea Clippers, Land Clippers
Today’s poster, by artist Kenneth Thompson, is a ‘Pan American’ (later more familiar as ‘Pan Am’) poster advertising the earlier iteration of their ‘Clipper’ airliners. In the American vernacular ‘ship’ for an aircraft was regularly used, adding another layer to the ‘clipper ship’ call-back to earlier times. Then, a lot of promotion assumed marine aircraft…
Non-British Bulldogs
An advertisement from The Aeroplane, 1932, by Bristol Aircraft. (Notice the logotype, discussed earlier here, bottom centre.) A neat design, the monochrome printing leads to an unanswered query – which nine countries? Some of the flags are identifiable – several are confused as they are all arranged vertically, not horizontally – and only readable with…
Dare to Rare
Today we dive right into the pulp. Sticking strictly to the ‘Dare-Devil Aces’ magazine of the inter to World War Two period, we still have more than enough awesome to play with. Starting with the Japanese ATTACK on New York, being defended by the US Navy (fair enough) but also a handsome assist by the…
Atlantic Air Ship or Flying Boat?
Today’s Poster is for three German inter-war companies promoting their Europe – South America service. With a Zeppelin type airship making a return trip, and a Dornier Do 18 flying boat on the way out, airmail post is offered in just three days. Deutsche Lufthanda, Symdicato Condor LTDA and Deutsche Zepplein Reederei are the three…
A Year of Aviation Illustration & Art 