What An Old Airplane Looked Like — 99 Years Ago

Even in 1916, some airplanes were considered “old.” A December, 1916 photo feature in the four-month old magazine “Aviation” — now  Aviation Week & Space Technology — focused on “old and new types of airplanes.”

Considered over the hill was a Curtis D built especially for pilot Ruth Bancroft Law’s “looping exhibitions.” The aircraft was nicknamed “pusher” because its pilot’s seat sat in front of the engines and propeller. Aviation noted that the aircraft held just 53 gallons of gas and that Law had flown it from Chicago to New York.

The “new” aircraft was a German airplane captured by the British during World War I, “probably of the Albatross type.” Its notable features included an exhaust gas collector on  the muffler with a pipe to deflect gasses over the top of the plane, a propeller with narrow tips, and a “German type” radiator. 

► Aviation Week is approaching its 100th anniversary in 2016. In a series of blogs, our editors highlight content from the magazine's long and rich history, including viewpoints from the industry's most iconic names and stories that have helped change the shape of the industry.