Airport Play: Commercial Aviation Toys and Games

Airport Play: Commercial Aviation Toys and Games

During the 1920s and 30s, municipal airports were built in ever greater numbers throughout the Americas and Europe reflecting the rapid expansion of commercial aviation and the need for infrastructure to facilitate it. These changes were seen as ushering in a new air age, and educating the youth of America about airports and commercial aviation became a high public priority. Over the following decades, airport toys were seen not just as amusements, but as a means to become familiar with the aviation at an early age. Inspired by major aviation events capturing the headlines, children yearned to pretend they were using or operating a real airport. Toy manufacturers responded with toys that resembled airports, airliners, and airport equipment. Game manufacturers also saw an opportunity to meet the public’s demand for family activities that shared in the excitement of this major technological transformation. Airport Play presents a variety of toys and games related to airports, airlines, and flight crews from the late 1920s to the 1970s.

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