Cessna Aircraft Wings for Doubting Thomas 1950's Educational Documentary

Cessna Aircraft Company film that extols the virtues of flying & private plane ownership. Comparisons are made between the cost of flying versus traditional automotive journeys. .

[@blancolirio]

“Suddenly, it seemed as if planes were everywhere”.

[@LetsFlyWa]

I would love to make informational videos like this. I wish the FAA would go back to that but without the cheese. lol

[@aviatortrucker6285]

Back when flying was so inexpensive, you were able to buy and maintain an airplane a lot easier and insurance and rentals were great. Just back in 1982 I rented a C-152,with a CFI for $49/hr dual. Avgas was $.92 a gallon.

[@Armafly]

It’s the depiction of a golden era, when flying was less complex but also less safe.

[@rnelson299]

I used to have an old strait tail 172 similar to that airplane. It was kinda cool to see the same cockpit bran new in a 1950s video.

[@LetsFlyWa]

I just came back from flying a 1972 C172 and the panel looks pretty much like this one…

[@SethBlumenthal26c]

the old 1980s cessna pilot center brochures have a more updated but similar "flying as standard transportation" vibe. always fun to see those (I flew and owned light aircraft in the past). if only all such flights occured during daylight and good VFR weather and it really was as easy as driving on the interstate.

[@libertine5606]

Of course the old Impala without any seatbelts, much less airbags, made the flying seem a little safer.

[@randym7511]

Great video! I haven't flown one of the straight tails but I have flown a '66 C-172 with the Continental O-300 engine. That's a great smooth-running engine.

[@dustbowlhammer7119]

Back when a working man could afford a Cessna. Nowadays you have so much you have to pay, it's disproportionate to what you make. Even well to do folks, can't afford it today. You have to have something pretty good going for you. Just to get an old plane built when this picture was made xD.

[@LetsFlyWa]

That is very true. The cost of aircraft have far exceeded inflation. Part of the issue is the legal system and the price the manufacturer could be forced to pay if a crash were to happen.

[@TheJustinJ]

The problem is (or isn't) the fact everything else has been optimized for mass production, and prices have fallen by an order of magnitude in other areas, such as appliances and TVs. We are talking, proces have fallen to a small fraction of their initial price due to mass production. Unfortunately, due to John Maynard Keynes, and Progressivist monetary policy, inflation as taxation has been used to wipe out all the gains made in mass production. Airplanes have not been improved for mass production. Therefore inflation affects them directly. It is the combination of inflation and lack of mass production that causes the price of aircraft to climb disproportionately. But the real crime, is inflation has prevented the poor and middle class from naturally becoming wealthy just by waiting for prices to fall due to capitalism and improvements in mass production.

[@jumpinjack1]

Looks like that same 1959 C150 trainer is still flying today, can't say that for the 1959 chevy and fords.

[@LetsFlyWa]

I have a 62 Pontiac and a 41 Chevy. If I had cared for the as well as actively flying planes are, they would be worth a small fortune!

[@cameronmolt5649]

My mom's 66 F100 is still running good and is parked next to out Aeronca that's a 1950. Got to love the old stuff that I can work on.

[@mmayes9466]

The 1959 150 I used to fly is not still flying today.

[@inventsc]

Looooove this film !!

[@joezizzo]

These GA flying as reliable transportation pitches always crack me up. Flying is a great way to get there fast as long as you’re not in a hurry.

[@drizler]

Oh yea! I called my 150 a dirt bike with wings. Ya never wanted to go all that far living in the North East. Weather, weather…….did I mention weather.

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

How do you know there's a pilot at your dinner party? 0:38 Don't worry, he'll tell you.

[@LetsFlyWa]

Umm… no we don't. By the way, let me tell you about this flight I just took…

[@cameronmolt5649]

Our 15AC Aeronca was shown on the "Flying Businessman". I love these vintage shows. If possible, i much prefer flying over driving even though ive been passed by traffic.

[@MikePenny-gy2be]

What a cool video! Love the pictures of Addison Airport where it was filmed.

[@LetsFlyWa]

I want to make videos like this but more modern.

[@waynesilva3129]

I soloed in 1970 while doing in high school. A 150 rented for eleven dollars. Got my license with my summer money. Something is seriously out of kilter when today a plane must average one hundred fifty dollars. Why hell, are there any blue collar workers or people working in an office that can afford this kind of money?

[@libertine5606]

In 1980 it was $19 for the plane and $10 for the instructor. And when I turned 16 and could drive the fuel truck I got 10% off the price of the plane!

[@walkerdb84]

For future reference: In 2009 it was $85 per hour for a wet Cessna 152 and $50 per hour for instructor (KSNL Oklahoma)

[@aviatortrucker6285]

In 1982 I rented a C-152 with a CFI for $49 dual. Ground school was $50 and my PPL check ride was $70 in 1985. What happened is insurance, fuel prices, maintenance, parts and inflation. Can’t even plan a three hour round trip cross country as it’s almost $575 for a C-172! How kids are affording to get a PPL these days at around $15k. When I did it, it was around $3500!

[@gregmitchell4619]

What got most in the 60's and 70's was liability insurance. We used to fly everywhere. Got to visit family often. What took 5 hrs in a car, took about an hour in the plane. Get out refreshed and ready to go. Drive, and be wore out after 5 hours.

[@VictoryAviation]

This is super cool. Thanks for posting it up!!!

[@LetsFlyWa]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@samomiotek7210]

You sure do forget the world below you.

[@LetsFlyWa]

Yes you do..

[@gasisthepastendoil]

power .. For people who can't fly gliders

[@LetsFlyWa]

lol.... Gliders... for people that can't afford gas....

[@goldslinger]

I’m a pilot and I drive, not fly, in a thunderstorm. A lot this video doesn’t tell you.

[@troywarner9546]

if he were the better driver maybe he would know how to pull off the highway properly

[@rexbentley8332]

Time to spare, go by air.

[@willarddevoe5893]

Lack of airports and huge pilot's license costs are ruining aviation. Buy your kids balsa stick and tissue models now.

[@brucelytle1144]

I learned to fly in the mid 80's. It was $27/hr. then, I couldn't afford it after that. In the 90's it was in the $75-100/hr.

[@lancomedic]

Not sure which was nicer, the Cessna or the Chevy.

[@LetsFlyWa]

I'll take both… I have a 41 Chevy and a 62 Pontiac.

[@mech4211]

I owned a plane for 10 years. I think the 2 things that killed General Aviation in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s was the Interstate Highway System and air conditioning.

[@Chris_at_Home]

I owned a 1965 7ECA Champion from 85-92. They are expensive toys. I’ve had jobs where I have been transported in many different kinds of planes and helicopters in Alaska.

[@mmayes9466]

General aviation boomed in the 70’s. Largest growth period in history.

[@Frida3728]

For me, the film uses a lot of psychological pressure that to be socially accepted one needs to have an airplane. 1950s was a big era for private planes.

[@LetsFlyWa]

I think it was more about how easy it was to use a plane versus the common misconception that it is some magical and unobtainable task.

[@Frida3728]

I was mistaken about what I said. When I was young, there were friends who had interests that they were enthusiastic and vibrant about. I felt excluded from them. Those feelings came to mind watching the film. Interesting how memories come back after decades. Thank you for the film and an unexpected insight

[@BillySBC]

In case you thought BS'ing people was something only modern people did.

[@vg23air]

and then... the lawyers showed up..... bye bye ga

[@brucelytle1144]

Yep! I grew up in Wichita during the 50-60's. Seemed like everyone knew someone that worked at Cessna, Beechcraft or Boeing. That all dried up after 69, right after some attorneys got a huge settlement out of the manufacturers and not the dead, negligent pilot!

[@vg23air]

@@brucelytle1144 yep, it was the widows of dead doctors that caused all of this, they no longer had that doctor income and attys jumped on it for them.

[@MrShobar]

He's had a license for about a month...and invites his neighbors to be his first victims.

[@LetsFlyWa]

That is how things work. Spend 40+ hours learning to fly, spend some time flying, share the experience with others. Not victims, but people to share his enthusiasm with.

[@dirktyler3643]

This is one of the cornier corny 50s educational movies I've seen.

[@colindhowell]

It's really just a long Cessna advertisement, touting the same sales themes as they did in their other ads of the period (1959 or 1960, judging by the brand new original-version Cessna 150 they showed).

[@LetsFlyWa]

I wish they had something like this now to encourage people to fly. These days it is up to the current crop of pilots to recruit the next generation...

[@kdrapertrucker]

Sheltered life, huh? They get way cornier.

[@kdrapertrucker]

​@@LetsFlyWagovernment regulation has made it much more expensive to fly. And the only affordable planes for most people are those exact aircraft used in the video.

[@mmayes9466]

@@kdrapertruckerspecifically which regulations have made it more expensive to fly?