The glory days of flight

Boarding a plane, 1957
Passengers board a plane in 1957
Courtesy of Robert Bickal

There was a time when the term "air travel" didn't bring to mind snaking security lines, tiny packets of powdery pretzels and endless delays.

Jet Set
Jet Set: The People, the Planes, the Glamour, and the Romance in Aviation's Glory Years
Courtesy of publisher

It was the glory age of flight, writes bestselling author and Vanity Fair contributor William Stadiem.

In the 1950s and 1960s, when Americans first took to the skies en masse, planes were luxurious and flying was an activity of the wealthy.

In his newest book, "Jet Set: The People, the Planes, the Glamour, and the Romance in Aviation's Glory Years," Stadiem paints a vivid portrait of this time.

His account includes both aeronautics history and narratives from the lives of the era's rich and famous.

Stadiem joins The Daily Circuit to talk about his latest work, as well as the wonders of flying in the mid 20th century.

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