In the good old pre-1950s ‘Golden Age’ of aviation, the slang word for airplanes was ‘ships’. No matter the size, be they trainer, passenger plane, warbird or dirigible, the ‘ship’ was the commonly used term and I wish it were still in use; something about it conveys a hearty respect and admiration for these relatively new inventions which were quickly revolutionizing so many things in the world–war, travel, mail delivery. Speed and aerobatic demonstrations designed to show the public both the thrills, safety and awesome capabilities of airplanes–er, ships–were a common event, one that doesn’t exist in any way, shape or form anymore. (This speaks to the sad fact that planes are no longer subjects of interest to most people–simply a means of transportation that most people don’t like). Above is a ten minute collection of newsreel clips showing a fascinatingly eccentric group of pre-war planes. What begins as a somewhat larkish look at aviation adventure eventually segues into a look at early warbirds designed for a war that was not yet underway. Pearl Harbor, pre 1942, is somewhat hauntingly mentioned as a group of planes are prepared to be flown to their new Hawaiian base-home. I don’t know how many of these planes still exist or if they do what kind of condition they’re in. But there are many more aviation museums around the country–the world really–then I would have guessed prior to my having developed an interest in the subject a year or so ago. This newsreel is a hell of a lot easier to watch than an aviation museum is to attend so it will suffice for now. Plus you get to here the delightfully robust, period-appropriate narration delivered by Graham McNamee, the Ed McMahon of his day…