Photography in this collection was collected by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Air Transport Curator R. E. G. (Ron) Davies from a variety of unidentified sources, presumably for integration into his airline reference files. It includes a mixture of black and white and color formats from 35 mm roll film to 4.75 x 6 inch sheet film. Aircraft pictured are predominantly airliners in use in the post-World War II period, circa 1947-1965, and include views of British, European, and American airliners at airports in the United Kingdom, and passenger and cargo aircraft belonging to various Central and South American airlines photographed at Miami International Airport (Florida, USA).
Scope and Contents:
Original and copy photography in this collection includes a mixture of color positives (transparencies), color negatives, and black and white negatives predominantly in 35mm roll film format, either as cut strips or as individual frames (no complete rolls). The collection also includes some medium format sheet film in 4.75 x 6 inch, 4 x 5 inch, and 120 format sizes. A small amount of film was found in annotated enclosures, but the bulk of the material was unidentified.
A large number of the photographs in this collection appear to have been taken of British, European, and American airliners on the ground at international airports in Britain (UK), with a few views of Royal Air Force or British government aircraft. An equally large number of photographs show passenger and cargo aircraft belonging to various Central and South American airlines; these are predominantly seen on the ground at Miami, Florida (USA), although some were likely taken at other locations in the Caribbean area. Views taken in Florida also include various American airliners and a few US civil, military, and government aircraft. Views taken in Central America include a few photographs of military cargo aircraft belonging to the Colombian (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) and Salvadoran (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña) air forces. Aircraft types pictured include a large number of World War II military cargo aircraft modified for civilian service, particularly the Curtiss C-46 Commando and—to a lesser extent—the Douglas C-47 (DC-3) Skytrain (Dakota) and Douglas C-54 (DC-4) Skymaster. Other post-WWII American airliners such as the Lockheed Constellation family, various Douglas models (DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-10) and the Martin (Glenn L.) Model 404 (4-O-4) are also seen, as well as various British airliners including the Bristol 175 Britannia, Handley Page Hermes and Dart Herald H.P.R.7, Britten Norman BN-2A-III Trislander, and Vickers Viking and Viscount. A small group of photographs focuses on flying boats used by various small airlines, particularly the Short S.25 Sunderland and S.45A Solent models.
Arrangement:
Photography is organized by format. Images found together have been grouped in the same folder or sheet. Cut strips or individual frames which appear to be from the same roll of 35mm film are presented in frame number order.
Biographical / Historical:
The post-World War II period saw an explosion in the number of new national and international airlines, many making use of readily available surplus military aircraft such as the Douglas C-47 and Curtiss C-46 modified to serve as passenger and cargo aircraft in regularly scheduled and charter operations. This period also saw the introduction of four-engine pressurized airliners such as the Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-6, providing airline passengers with a faster, more comfortable air travel experience.
Photography in this collection was collected by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Air Transport Curator R. E. G. (Ron) Davies from a variety of unidentified sources, presumably for integration into his airline reference files. This material was transferred to the NASM Archives from the NASM Aeronautics Department following Davies' retirement.
Related Materials:
See related collection R. E. G. (Ron) Davies Air Transport Collection, NASM.XXXX.0604.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Modern Air Transport (MAT) Curtiss C-46A Commando (r/n N3935C)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 9
Type:
Archival materials
Negatives
Date:
circa 1959-1961
Scope and Contents:
"7177-2." Left side view of Modern Air Transport (MAT) Curtiss C-46A Commando (r/n N3935C, civil modification, originally USAAF s/n 42-107376) on the ground at Miami, Florida; circa 1959-1961.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography, NASM.XXXX.1224, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
"6567-6." Left side view of Aerovias Q Curtiss C-46A Commando (Cuba r/n CU-T607, civil modification, formerly USAAF s/n 42-107292) on the ground, possibly at Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida; circa 1957-1959. Note Lopez-Grace Aviation building in left background.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography, NASM.XXXX.1224, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers, NASM.2023.0052, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
This donation consists of Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) employee film entitled, "Catch Us!" and some PSA ephemera.
Scope and Contents:
This donation consists of a 31 minute 16 mm color sound Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) employee film entitled, "Catch Us!" The collection also includes a PSA First Flight Certificate and a PSA baggage tag.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged by type of material.
Biographical / Historical:
From 1949 until 1988, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) was a United States airline headquartered in San Diego, California. Founded by Kenneth Friedkin, PSA was the first large discount airline in the United States. PSA was initially operated as an intrastate airline in California, but expanded to other western states cities, as well as to several cities in Mexico, after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. PSA eventually merged into USAir. PSA's corporate culture was known for its humor and friendliness; the airline's slogan was "The World's Friendliest Airline," and its trademark was a smile painted on the nose of each plane while its accompanying advertising campaign employed the phase, "Catch Our Smile."
Provenance:
June Moore Irey, Gift, 2019, NASM.2019.0036
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) Employee Film and Ephemera, NASM.2019.0036, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Early Birds of Aviation (Organization). Search this
Extent:
2.329 Gigabytes
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Cd-roms
Digital images
Date:
2007-03-26
Summary:
Photographs taken by National Air and Space Museum photographer Eric F. Long of the Airbus A380 during a commercial route proving flight over Washington, DC on March 26, 2007.
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists of 57 digital, color images relating to the Airbus A380 during a commercial route proving flight on March 26, 2007. Captured by National Air and Space Museum (NASM) photographer Eric Long, images depict the aircraft taxiing, taking off, flying over Washington DC and the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center, and landing at Dulles International Airport (IAD). There are also images of the interior of the aircraft and a preflight planning meeting with crew of the aircraft, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, helicopter pilot Tom Pumpelly, and videographer Leo Shefer.
Arrangement:
Arranged by aircraft's flight movements.
Biographical / Historical:
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body airliner measuring 238 feet in length, 79 feet in height, and featuring a wingspan of 261 feet. It was the result of an international project between France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom to build the largest high-capacity aircraft in aviation history. As the world's first fully double-deck passenger aircraft, the A380 has the capacity to carry approximately 550 passengers. It made its inaugural commercial flight flew on April 27, 2007. To demonstrate the practicality, reliability, and effectiveness of the aircraft's systems, a series of commercial route proving flights were made from the Lufthansa base in Frankfurt, Germany in 2007. As part of one of these exercises, A380 development aircraft MSN7 visited Hong Kong on March 25 before journeying to Washington, DC the following day and returning to Germany on March 27th.
Photographs in this collection were made by National Air and Space Museum photographer Eric F. Long. Initially hired with Smithsonian's Photo Services Division in 1983, he completed assignments for many of the Smithsonian museums. When Photo Services disbanded in 2006, Long was permanently assigned to the National Air and Space Museum where he photographed artifacts while continuing his work with other museums. Retiring in 2023, Long dedicated over 40 years serving the mission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Provenance:
Eric Long, Gift, 2007, NASM.2007.0033
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.