Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: flying

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Watch the skies! -- UFOs, airplanes, birds, clouds, or anything else that might be up there . The hard-to-read handwritten note on the other side of this divided-back, real photo postcard says, "Rose sitting, [Lill?] Jennings standing, ... and myself at Yarmouth." The Yarmouth location and the roundels on the wings of the airplane suggest that this is a souvenir photo from England. But what's the meaning of "O.K" and "R.U." on the fuselage? And was there actually a three-seater biplane that looked something like this?

A nineteenth-century New Year calling card with a fanciful illustration. In the sky, a man is holding the reins connected to a pair of large birds who are pulling the airship that he and a female passenger are riding in. The initials "A.H.N.Y." on the airship's balloon stand for "A Happy New Year." Down below, a sailor on a ship is waving his hat as he hangs on to a mast next to a large banner that also displays a greeting for "A Happy New Year."

A man pretends to steer an airplane in this early twentieth-century real photo postcard that's survived the years despite some damage. The painted plane that he's piloting may be a Curtiss Model D biplane, circa 1911. For a similar photo with a younger pilot, see Inflight Infant in an Early Biplane (below).

A detail from a real photo postcard showing daredevil aviator Charles K. Hamilton flying above the trees in his Curtiss biplane in 1911. For more information, see the full version of the photo:

"Chas. K. Hamilton Flying at Cameron Co. Fair, Emporium, Pa., Sept. 14, 1911." A real photo postcard addressed to Anneada B. Secrist, Rebersburg, Pa., and postmarked Emporium, Pa., Oct. 2, 1911. Message: "Dear Anneada, Am waiting for a letter from you and very busy but am going to write you a letter if you don't soon write. Have not heard from May in two months. Lovingly, Ophelia." According to Wikipedia, Charles K. Hamilton was "an American pioneer aviator nicknamed the 'crazy man of the air. He was, in the words of the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, 'known for his dangerous dives, spectacular crashes, extensive reconstructive surgeries, and ever present cigarette' and was 'frequently drunk.' He survived over 60 crashes." Oh, in case you didn't notice the daredevil aviator in his Curtiss biplane, mouse over the image above to reveal the tiny silhouette of the man and his plane above the trees near the center of the photo.

Den Krampus soll der Sputnik holen, Weil er die Kinder hat bestohlen! I'm not sure of the exact translation of the rhyming lines on this Austrian postcard (dated 1961 on the back), but I believe the general idea is that Krampus is making his getaway on Sputnik (which evidently can refer to a rocket as well as a satellite ) because he has just taken the children's pretzels and other treats, ones that St. Nicholas gave to them.

Looks like the skyline below the plane is intended to depict Paris. Among the recognizable landmarks are the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, and the two towers of the old Trocadéro Palace , which was demolished in 1935.

An owl and a bat flap their wings through the nighttime sky as Cupid stands on a cloud and contemplates whether to shoot an arrow at the full moon, where a witch has replaced the Man in the Moon. I can't help but wonder whether L. R. Conwell, the publisher of this 1909 postcard, recycled a Valentine's Day card to compose this perplexing scene, but a search for other Cupid cards didn't uncover any similar postcards. Conwell also featured Cupid in at least one other Halloween postcard. See Wishing You a Lucky Halloween :

Kids, It's Here! The New Mystery Atomic-Jet Flying Saucer. Watch it sail way up in the air--you can make it fly higher than a tall building. It will do five airplane stunts, too. Get several of them--and have flying saucer contests! Even dads go crazy over it. Be the first in your neighborhood and amaze your friends. Atomic-Jet Flying Saucers and extra flying wheels on sale at ________.

"Loving thoughts." See also Statue of Liberty Valentine .

"To one I love." See also Brooklyn Bridge Valentine .

"My Wife's Up in an Airship. Words by Arthur Longbrake. Music by Ed. Edwards. Published by Longbrake & Edwards, 50 N. 8th St., Phila., Pa. Miss Camp." Handwritten: "Jane H. Banks. J.H.N., 7-22, 1911." An amusing sheet music cover featuring an early airplane (" airship " referred to any type of flying machine in 1911 when this was published, but today the term is used only for dirigibles). It's disappointing, however, to discover that the lyrics of the song (see below) express the "henpecked" husband's spiteful wish that the airplane will take his wife away permanently because "It's my one chance you see / To live here happily." For York University's copy of the sheet music, which includes a PDF version of the inside pages, see My Wife's Up in an Airship (the Web address is an alias that takes you to YorkSpace, York University's digital repository). My Wife's Up in an Airship Words by Arthur Longbrake. Music by Ed. Edwards. Jonesy was a henpecked man For him life was a joke, His wife made him give up his dough She always kept him broke; One day she said I'm going up In an airship for a ride, Then Jones pretended to be scared But he smiled on the side. And when she sailed away Some friends heard Jonesy say, Chorus: My wife's up in an airship Hooray! hip, hip, hooray! I hope she likes the trial trip So much she'll want to stay; For should she stay up in the air Ye ho! my lads, ye ho! With her up there most anywhere I'd have some peace below. Jonesy said I wished her luck When she left mother earth, But if that airship would get stuck I'd give all I am worth; I hope the lad who drives the ship Will attempt a spiral glide, Or land her in the middle of A river three miles wide. It's my one chance you see To live here happily. Chorus

"Greeting with hearty good wishes for Christmas and New Year, Hazel Kelley."

An infant for the ABC Group (4/20/2017). A rather dark real photo postcard with a young child who doesn't appear too excited to be steering a painted version of an early biplane that looks similar to a 1911 Curtiss Model D . For another vintage novelty photo that uses the same backdrop, see Man in a Biplane (below).

A flying photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "The Colonial Studio, 137 Sixth St., Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A."

I sure hope Santa gets a new airplane this year! He's still making deliveries with his old biplane. 8-) Postmarked Airydale, Pa., Dec. 24, 1910.

"Am on a flying trip. Will see you soon, G.S."