Vintage Aviation

Discover the beauty of vintage aviation with SuperStock's gallery of stock images. Our collection of vintage aviation photos captures the spirit and grandeur of a bygone era. From classic propeller planes to iconic airliners, our selection of vintage aircraft images will take you back in time. Whether you're looking for a nostal...Read more

Glider Pilots Train By Night -- Photo taken at R.A.F. station during night training for glider pilots shows in the brilliant floodlight the ***** as it taxes out. March 29, 1943. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Rescued From ***** Sea -- A 'Guinea-Pig' is lifted from his dinghy by the helicopter winch and then flown to be landed on the nearby lifeboat. Eleven men were ***** dinghies in the bleak ***** North Sea recently. The rescued men were not however genuine but human guinea-pigs in a helicopter rescue demonstration, 15 miles off Tayport. The exercise was performed by members of 275 search and rescue squadron, one of the only two rescue squadrons in Great Britain, and based near middlesbrough. Decemb

Aviation - Bristol Beaufort Bomber. June 11, 1942.

For New Zealand Flight -- Working on the wing of the Codock, the two -engined monoplane, which is being completed at Cockatoo Dock. Squadron-Leader T. W. White, on his recent arrival from New Zealand, said he expected this 'plane would be used by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and himself to fly to New Zealand. November 22, 1933.

Instruments. December 11, 1946. (Photo by International Newsreel).

A formation of F-94s, new jet fighter interceptors, fly over ice-choked Cook inlet near Anchorage, Alaska, on a training flight. These Lockheed" all weather planes" capable of hunting down an enemy plane in darkness or storm with airborne radar, are now operating from Alaskan and Japanese bases. January 01, 1952.

Army Medical Helicopter Sport & General Press Agency Limited. July 15, 1953. (Photo by Public Relations H.Q. BCFK Rankin).

Pengana A. Nat Airways. December 16, 1938.

Bungana Douglas Airlines. January 16, 1937.

Britain's Latest Jet Fighter -- Britain's latest experimental Jet fighter, the Hawker P.1052, which has been designed and built for the purpose of obtaining accurate aerodynamic measurements at speeds approaching that of sound. Developed largely from an earlier model, the P.1040, the new aircraft is characterised by its swept-back wings, which make it easily recognisable in the air. It is powered by a single Rolls-Royce 'Nene' engine. Performance details are still secret. July 20, 1949.

Supergiant of The Skies -- The World's first international bombers a 10 engine Convair B-36 - puts its two, huge, 4-wheel landing gears down for a landing at a tropical Air Force base. This supergiant of the skies has a wingspread of 230 feet-almost as long as a football field. Its length is 162 feet, and its height at the tail is nearly 47 feet or 5 stories high. With four J-47 jet engines nestled ***** its Six 3,500 horsepower reciprocating engines. This mighty Air Force bomber is capable of c

Wired For Sound Jet Flying -- Navy flight surgeon Comdr. Norman L. Barr attaches electodes to the body of pilot chief Joseph Kube during Navy's just completed series of successful tests and experiments for checking the minds and bodies of jet plane pilots while in flight. The electrodes register, through intricate radio devices, the heart and respiratory reactions during various stages of flight. The equipment was developed because of the number of air disasters caused by "pilot failure". Novemb

Reconnaissance At Sea -- First of a batch of the new Fairey Seafox seaplanes (Napier Rapier 370 h.p. engine) specially designed for work with the Royal Navy. It is intended for catapult launching from the decks of warships and its armament is planned for effective attack on deck crews. August 12, 1937.

89C - Loading Bombs And Ammunition - Bombing Crew At Work, Gunners Etc. August 22, 1938. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Police - Plane N.S.W. Police. May 7, 1947.

Bell's Experimental Jet-Propelled Vertical-Rising Plane - This is Bell Aircraft Corporation's experimental jet-propelled vertical-rising airplane. Plane is shown taking off on test flight at Niagara Falls, N.Y., airport. Jet engines on either side of this experimental plane's fuselage are designed to be vertical for takeoff and are to revolve 90 degrees for forward flight. February 1, 1955. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

'Candy Floss' For Aero Engines -- A 'Hercules' engine gets the protective 'Candy Floss' (the webbing agent's nickname!) from the spray-gun of the Cocooner. Aero engines sent oversees from the ***** Division of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., at Filton, Bristol, are sometimes ***** in a special plastic covering as protection against humidity. Corners and high points of an engine to be treated in this way, are first padded, than a framework of tare is prepared as a basis for the plastic *****. A webbin

Solent flying boat of British Overseas Airways Corporation. January 1, 1951. (Photo by Whites Aviation Limited).

Power Producers - Two of the most powerful Jet engines yet developed for the U.S. Air Force near the end of the production line at the Pratt & Whitney plant in East Hartford, Conn. Known as the J57, the engine was announced by the Air Force today as the first to have an official rating in the 10,000-pound thrust class. The open circular areas are the front ends of the engines through which air enters. At 20,000 feet and a speed of 375 miles an hour one pound of thrust Is the equivalent of one ho

Premier Mc. Kell & Police Commissioner Mackary sit at the controls of the Police arrs at Mascot today. July 22, 1946. (Photo by Bob (Robert) Rice/Fairfax Media).

Flying Display And Exhibition Opens At Farnborough -- One of the "giants of the air" on show at Farnborough today - the Blackburn and General Aircrafts, Ltd. Prototype Beverley a freighter, in which interest is obvious by the crowds queuing to inspect it. Large crowds today attended the opening of the 1953 Flying Display and Exhibition, a "Shop window" for the products of the members of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, at Farnborough Aerodrome, Hants. September 07, 1953. (Photo by F

Japan To Build Baby Bombers -- The deadly little Fletcher defender fire-bomber will be the first post war aircraft to be built in Japan. The agreement with the Fletcher aviation company of Pasadena, California, and the Toyo aircraft company of Tokyo signed recently stipulates that Japan may not sell the planes to communist countries. The defender (pictured here) is an easy-to-build, easy-to-fly rocket-launching platform ideally suited for police work in controlling the jungle bands so prevalent

555K Kittyhawk Fighter - American Built. December 14, 1954.

American Kittyhawks and their N.Z. Pilots at an operational air station in New Zealand -- Mechanics attached to the Squadron stand by the Kittyhawks after checking the machines engines. November 19, 1942. (Photo by The "N.Z Herald").

World's First All-Magnesium Plane - This shows the U.S. Air Force's all-magnesium F-80C Shooting Star single jet fighter plane on the runway at Mitchell Air Force Base, Long Island, New York. Because magnesium in more rigid than aluminum, although lighter, the plane has about half the parts used in a comparable aluminum plane and is faster in speed. December 22, 1985. (Photo by United States Information Centre).

"Defiants": R.A.F. Night Fighters -- Defiants on patrol ***** clouds. The Boulton Paul Defiant is a long-range two-seater and is one of the types that have proved successful as night fighters. Powered by the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, it has an impressive speed. Its armament includes a specially designed power-operated multi gun *****. April 22, 1941. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

First Australian-Built Canberra Jet Bomber stands on the Avalon airstrip near Geelong today before its first official flight. Overhead an Australian built Lincoln bomber demonstrates flying on one engine. The propeller second from the right is the only one rotating. June 29, 1953.

Pilot Can Take It Lying Down -- Pilot lying in the nose of this specially modified meter jet aircraft can take over control of the plane from the other pilot sitting in the conventional cockpit farther back. The plane has been modified by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft for the Ministry of supply's research into the advantages and disadvantage of flying a plane from the prone position. Either of the pilots (who can be clearly seen in this new picture) can take over the controls at any time. June 29

Tiny Motor Helps Fliers -- Jean Jettie, an airline hostess, compares a compact with a tiny hydraulic motor weighing less than a pound and developing 2½ horsepower during a demonstration here of robot gadgets designed to help pilots fly supersonic aircraft. The motor helps operate ailerons, rudders or elevators which otherwise could not be moved because of terrific wind pressures. It was perfected by the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co., and shown to the Airport Operators' Council convention h

Aviation 1057 - Bell XIA. April 10, 1953. (Photo by Bell Aircraft Corporation).

New Aircraft for The Royal Navy. The "Gannets" ***** on the runways after a flight ***** the remarkable features of this *****. The Royal Navy's first unit of Fairey "Gonnet" aircraft, designed solely ***** anti-submarine work, was officially inaugurated at the Royal Naval ***** at Ford, Sussex. Now a "super priority" aircraft ***** "Gannet" will eventually replace the ***** built "Avenger" now serving with the *****. April 6, 1954. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Air Crew to Fly Queen on Her Commonwealth Tour. The B.O.A.C. crew to fly Her Majesty the Queen on the first stage of her tour. They will take the Queen to Bermuda. Left to Right. Captain Anthony Christopher Loraine; Capt: Richard Alastair Callander, First Officer John Eric Willett; Navigation Officer John Douglas Elliott; Radio Officer Charles Harry Phillips; Engineer Officer Eric Oswald Draper; Engineer Officer Ralph Skepelhorn, Steward Raymond Lewis Dunkley; Steward John Jarvis; Steward Michae

Family Plane -- Equipped for both day and night flying : New four-passenger Aeronca plane, claimed to be the lowest-priced postwar passenger aircraft. Rapid take-off and slow landings are made without the use of complicated devices. April 23, 1948.

Shakespeareans Go By Air 14 Weeks Tour Of Australia -- Members of the Shakespearian Memorial Company as they left London Airport, At the microphone is Miss Diana Wynyard, the actress. On left of Miss Wynyard is Colonel Fordham Flower, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Company. Members of the Shakespearian Memorial Theater Company of Stratford-on-Avon, led by Diana Wynyard and Anthony Quayle, the director, left London Airport by B. O. A. C. -Qantas aircraft for a fourteen weeks tour of Au

Launched From A Lorry -- The United States F-84 Thunderjet in flight after its take-off from the "Zero-length" platform on a lorry. The "Booster Bottle is just beginning to fall away. January 18, 1955. (Photo by Paul Popper Ltd.).

New Flying-Boat For B.O.A.C. -- The first of the 12 Short "Solent" flying-boats ordered by BOAC for the Far East service was launched at Rochester recently. The plane is powered by four Bristol Hercules engines, and it has day accommodation for 30 or 24 in berths in five cabins. ***** is 112 feet, length 60 feet, and range of ***** miles at a speed of 210 m.p.h. The picture shows some of the Bristol Hercules engines of the type fitted to the plane. June 1, 1947.

'Brain Lobes' of Electronics Seek And Destroy System -- On ground in front of this F-94 interceptor plane are the different parts of the electronic brain used in the "seek-find-and-kill" system which enables an interceptor to locate enemy aircraft at long range, regardless of visibility, direct the pilot to the target and launch the armament at the correct instant. Secret of how it is done was revealed today at the Hughes Aircraft Co., Culver City, Calif. October 05, 1955. (Photo by AP Wirephoto

Sky Testers --The Bell XIA, ***** Douglas X3, center, and the Douglas Skyrocket, bottom, are the three types of planes which the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics disclosed today it is using for research in high speed flying at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The Bell plane, world's fastest and highest flying craft, is testing the heat barrier at supersonic speeds. July 11, 1955.

It's Spacious -- Giant Globemaster C-124 is loading 155 mm howitzer and tractor at McChord AFB today preparatory to flight to Los Angeles in an armed forces demonstration. The big plane carried 48,000 pounds, 32 personnel. October 13, 1950. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

$Trodi Checks Fury : Speed of a Navy North American XFJ-2 Fury Jet is checked by Trodi (padestal at left) as it lands on the USS Midway. The new instrument, a touchdown, rate of descent indicator, was developed and built by North American's Electro-Mechanical Department. It makes it possible to determine the proper rate of descent for carrier landing in a fraction of the time previously required. Trodi sends out two beams of light which the approaching plane intersects and the instrument then rec$

The skill and daring of the men of the torpedo squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm during the last war has written a new page of history in the annals of the Royal Navy. No one will forget the gallent efforts made by the "Swordfish" torpedo bombers to sink the "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisnau" ***** they slunk through the Channel under cover of the weather, when Lieut-Commander Eugene Esmonde, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. It was the torpedo bombers flying off the week of the "Victorious" i

RAF's First All-Jet Bomber Squadron -- Canberras of 101 Squadron in the tarmac at Binbrook today. A picture taken at Binbrook (Lines) RAF Station today, of the first RAF bomber squadron to be equipped with the Canberra Jet bombers. It is No 101 Squadron, and the introduction or the Canberras marks the start of the expansion of Bomber Command. January 08, 1952.

New Police plane at *****. NSW police plane. May 08, 1946.

Collected Climbing Records. Wearing an ordinary lounge suit and regulation flying helmet, Flight- Lieutenant R.B. ("Tom") Prickett, 29-year-old test pilot is pictured before stepping into the plane behind him - the Hawker Siddeley Sapphire Meteor twin jet aircraft in which he collected four world records for Britain. Flying from the aerodrome here the aircraft climbed to 39,600 feet, or nearly seven and & half miles, in three minutes seven seconds. Other records scooped up by the Meteor were 9,8

A ***** American Warplane - The ***** American Aviation Super Sabre, the F100G, which is ***** of carrying atomic bombs at supersonic speed, ***** just been delivered to the United States Tactical *****. It is powered by a Pratt and Waltney J57 ***** engine with afterburner rated in the 10,000 lb. ***** F100G is 47ft. Long, 15ft. high, and has a ***** wing with a span of 38 ft. August 01, 1955.

Youth Forum Students See "Brabazon" -- The Youth Forum students inspecting the "Brabazon Mark I", at Filton, Bristol, today March 17. The twenty-six teen-age students who are guests of the Bristol Aeroplane Company today March 17, were shown the giant 130 ton "Bristol" Type 167, "Brabazon Mark I" under construction at Filton, Bristol. The students who are visiting England under the Aegies of the "Overseas Daily Mail" Youth Forum, represent thirteen different countries - Belgium, France, Denmark,

Hunt Submarines For The Navy -- The anti-submarine aircraft The Seamew, which is going into production for the Royal Navy. The plane was on view here to-day. It can operate from escort and merchant aircraft carriers and problems of N.A.T.O. countries were specifically considered by Short's design team when the Seamew was conceived. Object of this plane is to provide a cheap, simple and rugged aircraft which can be produced easily, and, at the same time, meet satisfactorily all the operational re

First of the giant C-133A turboprop cargo planes to be completed for the Air Force rolled out of the hangar today at the Douglas Long Beach plant. The huge new airplane, with twice the payload capacity of the largest military transports now in service, is expected to set new standards of performance as a global carrier of air cargo. The four-engined, high-wing plane has a span of 179 feet 8 inches. Its fuselage is 148 feet 2 inches long and 16 feet 2 inches in diameter. Tip of the tail towers mo

U.S. Bombers Trace Pattern Of Battle Four-motored Flying Fortress bombers of the Eighth U.S. Army Air Force leave four-plumed wakes across the sky over Western Europe during a battle with German fighter planes. The single wakes of the attacking German planes criss-cross the bombers' wakes in a tell-tale pattern of battle. During the month of October, U.S. Fortresses and heavy Liberator bombers operating from bases in Britain shot down 784 German planes, probably destroyed 130 and damaged 347 ov

The Span of A Thousand Years Nearly a thousand years of history glides under the majestic wings of this Pan American 'Stratocruiser', world's largest aeroplane in commercial service, as she passes over Windsor Castle en route to London Airport from New York. Beneath the 'Stratocruiser' the Castle - a Royal residence since the days of William the Conqueror (although it was built mainly by Henry III) - spreads its gracious grey bulk on the banks of the River Thames, winding through the chequered B

"Jindivik Mark I just after release from the take-off trolley". Jindivik leaves its take off trolley at Woomera. April 23, 1953.

Canberra Tries For Two-Way Record -- The Canberra Bomber taking off London this morning. A Canberra medium jet bomber left London Airport today in an attempt to fly to New York and back in one day. At the controls was captain John Hackett, former RAF coastal command pilot. With him was Mr. Peter Moneypenny, 31-year-old Navigator. The two men already set up 15 unofficial Canberra records together. They hope to reach New York in seven-and-half, hours and to be back in London by teno's clock tonigh

Aviation 1067 - North American T28B. November 03, 1955.

Britain's New Avro -- Britain's new Avro dual-control delta-wing research plane, just off the secret list, makes its first flight. The lane will be shown to the public for the first time at the Farnborough Air Show in September. August 21, 1953.

Butlers Money Back trip. Mascot. Passengers board the Vickers Viscount Aircraft at Mascot today on their "Butlers Money Back Trip" to Coolangatta. November 5, 1955. (Photo by James Hopwood/Fairfax Media).

A U.S. Air Force jet fighter zooms into the air like a guided missile as it blasts off a newly developed zero-length launcher in tests at Edwards Air Force base, California. The plane, described as the first piloted craft to use the mobile launcher developed by Martin Aircraft, first "revs" its jet engines up to full take-off power and then shoots upward with the additional aid of the booster bottle (visible under the fuselage near the tail). The platform, mounted on a truck for mobility, is des

105I - Bristol Brabazon Aircraft. September 20, 1949. (Photo by Associated Newspapers Picture).

"Brabazon" Named At Bristol -- More than seven thousand aircraft workers stood in pouring rain at Filton Airport, Bristol, today October 8, to watch the christening of the giant prototype "Brabazon I", Britain's largest land plane. The machine was named "Brabazon" by Air Marshal Sir Aleo Coryton, Controller of Air Supplies, Ministry of Supply, and then the massive doors of the world's largest hangar slid back and the aircraft was towed by tractor into its new home. The "Brabazon", which will car

The ***** "Brab" Nears Completion -- The latest pictures of the "Brabazon I" at ***** bomber is ***** by the great air liner. The ***** "Brabazon I" is nearing completion at Filton, Bristol. The building of "Brabazon I" is the ***** undertaking yet attempted by the British aircarft industry and every phase of the ***** has involved years of research. August 11, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Lifeboat ***** The Air -- Pictures taken ***** Solent during a demonstration of the ***** airborne lifeboat 17ft. 9ins. long, when it ***** by parachute to an air crew who were ***** to have been force landed in the sea. The lifeboat, self-righting and self-baling is equipped with sails and an outboard engine which gives a range of 120 miles at knots. It contains special water purifying units, first air equipment, rations, and cigarettes. A Naval "Barracuda" carrying the lifeboat before the drop

Mayo Composite Makes A "Separation" Test Flight -- The Mayo composite flying over Rochester Castle during the test flight today. The Mayo composite machine this afternoon made a test flight at Rochester, during which the machines parted in Mid-Air. February 23, 1938. (Photo by Keystone).

Wrecked Planes Mark Axis Retreat In Egypt -- Wrecked and abandoned German Planes on a field near El Daba, Egypt, testify to the British aerial offensive that preceded the westward push of land forces. This is a British Official Picture. November 25, 1942. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

R.A.F. "Tin Openers" In Middle East -- This is one of the first photographs released of the R.A.F' s. new Tank Buster a Hawker Hurricane 11D fighter - fitted with heavy calibre guns, designed primarily for attacking armoured vehicles. The Hurricane 11D carries tow 40-millimetre guns, one being fitted under each wing. They are capable of either automatic or single shot fire, have been specially designed for mounting on aircraft, and the weight of each is only 320 lb. June 3, 1943. (Photo by Depar

Aviation. December 4, 1946.

Flying With A Ford V. 8 Engine - The "Wicko" at Gravesend Aerodrome. Mr. C.N. Wilkner, an Australian from Brisbane, has designed and-is flying a two-seater light aeroplane powered by a Ford V. 8 Engine unit. The machine, which has American tendencies, in design, is called he "Wicko", and has a top speed of 115. m.p.h., cruises at 100 m.p.h., and lands at 59. m.p.h., It will be marketed at 375, This is the first time a Ford engine has been used in a light 'place in England. October 26, 1936. (Pho

Doing The Bare 240 miles an hour - Capt. Hawks testing his machine for his attempt to shatter the record from New York to Los Angeles. August 19, 1930. (Photo by International News Photos Inc.).

Snatching 'Casualties' From The Air -- The Hoverfly Helicopter ambulance flies off to the dressing station with a "Casualty" on the external stretcher. "Casualties" were "snatched up" by a Hadrian glider and picked up by a grating stretcher suspended from a helicopter during a "Casualty Evacuation Exercise" at the Royal Air Force Station, Brize Norton, Oxford today (Thursday). The exercise demonstrated modern methods of speedily recovering wounded from battle areas. January 20, 1949. (Photo by

Tricycle Light 'Plane -- The new General Aircraft Cygnet two-seat cabin monoplane (de Havilland Gipsy Major 130 h.p. engine) produced for primary pilotage instruction and air touring. It is the only light aeroplane of "stressed skin" all-metal construction in the world. Note the wing flaps, shown down to facilitate landing, and the twin rudder, which is claimed to give exceptional stability in flight. August 31, 1939. (Photo by Flight Photo).

Mechanics starting motors of Southern Cross which ***** Syd - Melb. service Monday. April 7, 1931.

1940S Smiling Army Air Corps Pilot In Open Cockpit Wearing A Leather Flying Helmet Giving A Thumbs-Up Sign

1960S Passengers Boarding American Airlines Astrojet By Way Of Short Stairway Raised From Bed Of Pickup Truck

1960s MAN CO-PILOT AND WOMAN FLIGHT ATTENDANT STANDING SMILING IN DOOR OF AIRPLANE LOOKING AT CAMERA

1960s 1970s AIRPLANE PLANE STEWARDESS SERVING BUSINESS MAN DRINK WINE WOMAN COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL

Vintage photograph. Boeing B-47 Stratojet flight

Vintage photograph. The Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress slows to a halt with the aid of its drag chute

Vintage photograph. Boeing B-47 Stratojet takes off from Boeing Field, Seattle Washington

Vintage photograph. Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress takes off from Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington

Boeing RB 47E in the foreground, and Boeing medium bomber B47E, both versions of the 100 ton, 600 mph Boeing stratojet

Boeing employees at the ceremony of the 1,000th B-47 Stratojet

Boeing B047 Stratojets in formation

Vintage photograph. Assembly of forward sections of Boeing B-47 Stratojets at Wichita, Kansas

Vintage photograph. Wing line at the Boeing Aircraft Company where C-97 Stratofighters are in production

Vintage photograph. Formation of North American F-86 Sabres of the 36th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in flight

Vintage photograph. A Navy "Skyraider" armed with three 1,000 pound bombs takes off from the USS Valley Forge

Vintage photograph. Bell helicopter performing Black fly fogging operations

Vintage photograph. A Republic XF-91 underneath view in flight

Vintage photograph. F - 86s at Larsen air force base

Vintage photograph. Four US Navy Panther Jets fly close formation

Vintage photograph. Bell helicopter performing Black fly fogging operations

Vintage photograph. Scorpion F - 89 equipped with wing rocket

Vintage photograph. Bell helicopter performing Black fly fogging operations

Vintage photograph. Bell helicopter performing Black fly fogging operations

Vintage photograph. Scorpion F - 89s

Vintage photograph. Northrop F-89D

Vintage photograph. The Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress in flight, Wing span is 185 feet, length is 153 feet

Vintage photograph. Convair Liner 340 in flight

Vintage photograph. The T-29 navigator-bombardier trainer assembly line pictured at Convair's San Diego Division

Vintage photograph. Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress in flight

Vintage photograph. Convair YB-60, equipped with eight Pratt & Whitney J-57 turbojet engines

Vintage photograph. Boeing B-47 Stratojet in full flight, fastest known bomber in the world