6 1/2 Magic Hours (ca 1958)

sky over the Atlantic the vast air ocean that must have stretched endlessly for Columbus when he sailed from Europe to America a few hundred years ago in over two long months the same air ocean over the Atlantic probably did not seem as endless to Charles Lindberg when he flew from New York to Paris some 30 years ago but still it took over 33 lonely [Music] hours today that same Atlantic Air ocean leaving Columbus 2 months and lindberg's 33 hours in its wake zooms by in a dramatic [Music] breakthrough the year 1954 marked an historic event in the history of Aviation a new flight was inaugurated it was called flight 1000 [Music] there was nothing unusual about airport operations before flight 1000's takeoff it was duly announced and passengers checked in Flight 1000's destination [Music] London luggage was prepared for loading and all other routine pre-flight activities were taking place 1,000 seemed to be just another flight to London in all respects except that its passenger list was twice as large as on ordinary [Music] [Applause] trips flight 1000 was Airborne but no plane was used this was the first of so-called Airline paper flights a complete simulation of an actual flight that's been repeated more than 2,000 times since the reason to prepare for the Revolution and transportation that is now here the Advent of commercial flying by jet Clipper in those early days weather information for flight 1000 and all the other paper jet flights was gathered as care y as if real Jets were to cross the Atlantic gaining invaluable Advan information about jet travel for example it is now known that at the altitudes at which Jets Cruise generally 30 to 40,000 ft flying will be above the weather after years of paper flights like number 1,000 and many hundreds of real flights with prototypes the jet age is now here the jet age begins before takeoff at the Airlines new terminal now under construction at Idle Wild Airport New York Jets are parked around it as in this model passengers will board by walking along a covered ramp directly to the cabin level ground transportation delivers Travelers directly to check-in counters the circular design of the terminal along with its unique Cala roof will assure speed of service and convenience for passengers [Music] this is it the first american commercial jet capable of economical transatlantic service the Boeing 707 jet Clipper first to go aboard cargo and mail cargo shipments will be able to reach Europe in just 6 and a half hours a letter posted in London or Paris after the close of business may arrive in New York the same night and be waiting for the address he at his breakfast table or office the next [Music] morning speed is a byword for every part of jet operations since with some arrangements of seats more than 150 passengers can be accommodated there is an entrance at the back and the front while plane servicing facilities are on the far side one indication of the Staggering impact of jet travel every one of the airlines dozens of jet planes can carry as many people in a year's time as the biggest ocean [Music] linup last item aboard the P's briefcase containing log manifest and other necessary [Music] documents for the crew ready to taxi to the runway now fewer instruments than on propeller driven craft and engines that are so much easier to handle and maintain the Magnificent new jet with a Wings spread that's bigger than the entire distance of the wri Brother's first [Music] flight takeoff without any need for engine warmup with outside noise now reduced to no more than that of propeller driven planes capable of traveling at 575 mph or more much higher and faster than you you've ever flown [Music] before the first passenger jet Clipper to fly the Atlantic because of its greatest size and speed it will do the job of several of the biggest propeller driven [Music] planes welcome aboard welcome aboard the spacious cabin attractively decorated air conditioned but draft free newly designed individual overhead light units are an [Music] innovation roominess extends even to the powder rooms which look like those in a private [Music] home and a new sensation complete absence of [Music] vibration near Sonic Speed but inside one of the most stunning discoveries there is no feeling of movement at all no vibration hardly any sound A New Concept in air transportation the travail has been taken out of travel ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking we are now at cruising altitude 35,000 ft our flying speed is 575 m hour in addition we're benefiting from a substantial Tailwind by courtesy of the jet stream hence our ground speed is now approximately 658 mph indications are that our arrival at London Airport may be ahead of schedule I'll be speaking with you again from time to time thank you this is the atmosphere on a jet Clipper flight delicious food adds to the enjoyment it's prepared and for simultaneously operating GLE where dishes can be cooked in 5minute [Music] ovens scenes of living room quiet and relaxation the mood enhanced by lighting that can be changed from the pale pink of dawn through all the variations to the dark blue of night [Music] ladies and gentlemen this is your captain again I've just been talking with flight control at London Airport the temperature there is 64° and the weather is clear if you haven't already changed your watches to conform to the time difference I suggest you do so now we are now making our descent I won't be speaking to you again as we be in our Landing pattern over London in the next few minutes it was a pleasure to have you aboard our jet Clipper we hope to have you with us again soon thank [Music] you New York to London in the same time that it takes you to go and see a baseball double head up New York to London in 6 and A2 magic hours it all goes so fast now and it's so comfortable that you feel as if you hadn't traveled at all many hours gained and no sleep [Music] lost London The Splendid ceremony called trooping the color celebrating the Queen's [Music] birthday and you arrive not only with more time on hand but also not travel fatigued you can take in the scenes and events more fully and at a more leisurely Pace only one of the remarkable gains made possible by jet flying [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] right New York to Paris 7 hours only 30 minutes longer than to London Paris right away You're In The Swim of things because once more you've landed refreshed and with extra hours to do what you want to do in a leisurely way experiences like these which used to be rare events for the few or the few thousand are becoming neighborly visits for the millions because international air traffic already increased five-fold during the last 12 years now undergoes its greatest [Music] change jet speeds will help to ACC accomplish one of man's long-sought goals an easy interchange of peoples throughout the world transoceanic flights now become short hops 6 and a half magic hours to [Music] [Applause] [Music] Europe l