Charles Knotek: First Daily International Airline Service

Artist: Charles Knotek
1933 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1984
Image Size: 16.25 by 12.75 inches
Overall Size: 20 by 15.25 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board

As World War I came to a close, an enterprising young man named George Holt-Thomas saw an opportunity to profit from the devastation caused by the war. Since Europe's railroads ... the most popular form of European transportation ... had been all but destroyed during the war, Holt-Thomas envisioned the money he could make with an airplane route between Paris and London. With this thought in mind, he founded Aircraft Transport and Travel, Ltd. He then bought a mixed batch of surplus de Havilland warplanes and converted them to carry passengers. With this tiny airline fleet behind him, Holt-Thomas was ready to establish the very first daily international airline service. Thus, early on the morning of August 25, 1919, a sleek de Havilland 4A airplane raced down the runway of the Hounslow Airdrome near London. On board was pilot Bill Lawford and a single passenger, news reporter George Stevenson-Reece. Soaring at the speed of 121 miles per hour, the plane flew high over English and French soil for just over two hours before gently touching down on the landing strip and Le Bourget Field in Paris. The flight was a tremendous success, and Holt-Tomas continued the popular London to Paris route until he went out of business on December 15, 1920 ... due to the fierce competition caused by other airlines springing up throughout Europe.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Commemorative Cover for the Man's Conquest of the Heavens series issued in 1983.

Artwork Copyright © 1984 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB08607

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