How about going back in time to fly with Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) with a Fokker F.VII aircraft from Amsterdam to Paris in 1929? And, in COLOR no less! Take note of the fact that there was no paved runway for operations. Large close cropped grass air fields were first used for Airline and general aircraft operations throughout not just Europe, but elsewhere as well.
Back then the flying public had no long check-in times, no conveyor belts, no gates, no luggage claim areas, no queues, no removal of belts and shoes, no jumbo’s, but in stead just a simple step ladder to board the plane with your suitcase in your hand to join the other half-a-dozen passengers.
Aircraft in that era were noisy, cold, provided often highly uncomfortably bumpy rides and could only fly at low altitude because of the lack of a pressurized cabin. Seats were made of wicker and the only entertainment was the steward or stewardess trying to serve coffee while attempting to keep their balance.
The original B&W film has been motion-stabilized, speed-corrected, A.I. enhanced and A.I. colorized.
To see the films and videos right here, simply click on the cover photos of each of them, then sit back, relax, and enjoy learning more of aviation’s great and colorful history.
B&W footage from Holland by: Beeld En Geluid. Originally posted by ‘Rick88888888’
And, let’s take another look through the Dutch film photographers’ lens at air travel via KLM in pre-WWII Europe, in the 1930s. This is the original B&W film version with its, then, primitive sound track. The following video of this film is entitled KLM & Schiphol Airport in the 30’s. (It is 24 minutes long, in Dutch, yet nevertheless easy to follow and understand).
Much of the film is clearly taken just prior to the outbreak of WWII on the Continent in the late 1930’s because so many Douglass DC-3 airliners are seen in the Dutch Hangars and on the ramps. Your webmaster has many memorable hours flying this amazingly futuristic airship (the DC-3) and its big sister, the DC-4.
It is no wonder that many of them are are still airborne some 86 years after their introduction in 1935. Notice that, in this pre-war era, English was not yet the universal language of Aviation. The dominance of English came about after the end of WWII, when it became the official language across the globe of all aviation air traffic control communications.
The film will show some proudly emblazoned swastikas adorning the German airliners parked at the airfield. There are glimpses of London, Berlin and Paris in the film, which also features a dramatic DC-3 Flight to Schiphol Airport during some inclement weather and the clear relief among the Airport personnel when the ship appears out of the cloudy skies and settles safely to the airfield. They had good reason to be concerned, since commercial aviation of that era was anything but safe in terms of what that means today.