While mankind's foray into flying began in the early 20th century, the modern air travel industry as we know it didn't truly grow its roots until the 1930s. The era marked the biggest leaps in the expansion of the industry, seeing the amount of people using aeroplanes to travel shooting from 6,000 annually in 1930, to 1.2 million by 1938.
As metal planes returned home from post-war posturing, a boom in passenger interest and sufficient technology to reach a slew of international destinations made the 1930s the start of something big.
But like any major technology, commercial flight didn't come without growing pains. If you think you have a lot to complain about now when it comes to air travel, take a look at what it was like to fly in the 30s.
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| An airplane from British Imperial Airways, taken in the early 1930's |
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| This picture is from 1938, and famous chefs are shown loading cakes onto the airplane for the passengers |
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| The picture was taken in Pennsylvania in 1938, which would have been the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg |
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| Stewardesses |
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| Passengers at the airport in Washington DC, 1938 |
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| Taken at an airport in Israel, 1935 |
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| This picture was taken in 1943, and the President was being flown to North Africa |
