Some of these illustrations and ads are just amazing; from a time when GA was heralded and revered.

http://books.google.com/books?id=9WYB5LkoXosC&printsec=frontcover&dq=flying+magazine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hv3vUs3aHYjioAT90IKQBA&ved=0CF4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=flying%20magazine&f=false

Must have been something to be a young pilot in the forties. I stumbled upon some interesting history of that Norden sight while waiting out a storm in Lewistown Montana. They used to practice there with B-17's claiming they could "drop bombs into pickle barrels." Seems that sight was such a gamechanger that they kept them locked away and guarded when not in use.

Surplus Hellcats for $150

They now sell north of $1M

Gonna get all philosophical here : THESE are the good old days Like I told a car restorer at a hot rod show once, who had his 55' Chevy display all decked out with feel good period items, like the 50's were all wine and roses, sunshine and lollipops. I told him he ought to have a few pictures of people in iron lungs (I had a buddy who's Mom had one, or it had her), the latest Korean War stats, and workers in shipyards installing asbestos overhear with no protection. As a serious collector of vintage flying books etc., as much as I like the stories and accounts of the earlier times, I wouldn't want to go back to all the other bad crap that got forgotten about. Camel straights being advertised by doctors anyone?

Didn't a great philosopher once say, "The good ol' days weren't always good and tomorrow's not as bad as it seems."

courierguy wrote:Gonna get all philosophical here : THESE are the good old days

Yup. And generally getting better with each passing decade.

page 124 just kills me... What SBM (Smart Business Men) will fly tomorrow...

The Funk!