The Age of Flight: A History of America's Pioneering Airline

Current troubles aside, and they have been manifold, the romantic history of United Airlines, marking its 75th anniversary, makes for absorbing reading. Documenting many of the pioneering airline's groundbreaking contributions to commercial aviation, the co-authors of "The Age of Flight" (Pace Communications), William Garvey and David Fisher, take a long, loving look at the memorabilia and images of aviation's "Golden Age." As interesting as the unfolding United story may be, equally engaging are the extensive collection of full-page and double-truck black-and-white and full-color photos and illustrations. Kudos to the carrier's veteran coordinator of archives, Barbara Hanson, whose Herculean efforts, long hours and exhaustive research, made a remarkable contribution to the book. Aviation aficionados in particular will find many of the 10 x 11-inch volume's outstanding selection of artwork, in infinite variety, suitable for framing. In a 1920s photo of passengers seated in wicker chairs on a United Ford Trimotor, with windows that opened, there's the amusing admonition, "Cigarette smoking only permitted. Throw no matches, lighted cigarettes or refuse on cabin floor, or from plane window." By the way, the co-pilot served food. From the same period, an ad for a "Business Men's Special." Los Angeles to Chicago, a 22 ¼ hour flight, $115, with 10 percent off on roundtrips. "Fare includes lunch. Smoking permitted. Two pilots on each plane. Move about if you wish." Of more recent vintage in the 75th anniversary paean, some of the memorable advertising successes, themes and slogans on the air and in print extolling "The Friendly Skies" are documented. The book concludes on a note of cautious optimism-taking a look ahead at what the future might hold for the once-mighty monarch of the skies.Reprinted with writer's permission (Jack McGuire) from 12/17/2003 book review in "Frequent Flyer" magazine.

OK, a scholarly work it is not but a fun read it is. The book has excellent photos of UAL aircraft, memorabilia and the employees that made her the premier airline known the world over. UAL has had many first over her 80 some years - first to fly with Stewardesses (now Flight Attendants) first to fly the 727 (Boeing would not have built that aircraft were it not for UAL's order - read the "Billion Dollar Gamble" to learn more about the 727), and UAL was the launch customer for the B777. The Age of Flight is a beautiful book with beautiful pictures.

The Age of Flight: A History of America's Pioneering Airline documents the first 75 years of United Airlines in rich detail. Hundreds of illustrations-drawn primarily from the collections of the United Airlines Archives-accompany the authors' insightful text to carry the reader on a journey from the adventurous days of the start-up airmail carriers that formed UAL through the growth and management of the company that became one of the world's largest airlines. All of the better known pioneers and legends are here; Knight, Cuddeback, Lee, Varney, Gorst, Boeing, Vought, Lindbergh, Keys, Rentschler, Patterson, Stimpson, Church, Jeppeson, Hiscock, Kinkella, O'Connor, and Norwood. Due credit is also given to the legions of employees whose work created the dominant transcontinental Main Line and eventual global network based on safety and service. The fold-out of Raymond E. Smith's color illustrations of the fleet from the de Havilland DH-4 to the Boeing 777, a corporate genealogy, thorough indexing, and other features such as a chapter on the future of flight make this book a valuable resource for the student, scholar, and aviation history enthusiast. John H. HillCurator-in-Charge of AviationSan Francisco Airport Museums