Half Century of Aircraft 1920 to the Present Day

The evolution of powered flight across the mid-20th century

This collection of drawings and photographs presents a curated narrative of how aviation technology rapidly developed between the early 1920s and about 1970. Twenty-six captioned images identify some of the most iconic aircraft of the era, ranging from Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis to the ultimately-canceled Boeing 2707. Unusual vehicles like the LTV XC-142A, Convair XF4-1, and Gee Bee racer are also depicted.

Heavy emphasis is given to aircraft of the Allied power – notably the Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 is omitted. The verso shows Famous Aircraft from 1903-1919, with special attention given to the fighters of World War I.

The illustrations were created by Jack Woodson. Published in Maplewood, New Jersey by Hammond, Inc. around 1970 and distributed compliments of Disabled American Veterans.