Jaunt Air

When the 247 went into service with United Airlines in 1933, it ushered in a new age in air travel. Widely considered to be the first of the modern airliners, it set new standards for speed, reliability, and safety.

The Douglas DC-3 was designed to compete with the Boeing Model 247, but quickly eclipsed the success of the 247. Regarded by many to be the greatest airplane ever produced, the DC-3 was the first airplane that was efficient enough to be profitable for the airlines. Including the C-47 military transport variant, more than 10,000 were produced. And more than 60 years after production of this great airplane came to an end, hundreds are still in use throughout the world, and still earning a profit for their operators.

Among the first of the high-altitude, strategic bombers, the B-17 derived its name from the complement of machine guns it carried for warding off attacks by enemy fighters. The B-17 was much loved by its crews for its legendary ability to absorb a tremendous amount of battle damage and still make it home. The B-17 was one of the key Allied aircraft of World War II.

At the time of its introduction, the B-29 could fly faster, farther, and higher than any other bomber in the world. It introduced a number of modern innovations, including pressurized crew compartments and computer controlled guns for self-defense.