TV host Arthur Godfrey takes controls of a passenger plane to demonstrate airline operations.

Eastern Air Lines Aircraft (passenger) Airline operations Godfrey, Arthur Titles Aircraft (biplanes) Pilots Aircraft (historical) Aircraft (Spad) World War I (aviation) World War I (fighter planes) Dogfights Aircraft (crashes) Aircraft (Super Constellation) Merrill, Dick (pilot) Weather Maps Dispatchers Aircraft (flight decks) Instruments Controls Meters Compasses Altimeters Propellers Aircraft (ground control) Aircraft (taxiing) Aircraft (in flight) Runways Aircraft (takeoffs) Aircraft (landing gear) Aircraft (air-to-air shots) Cigarette smoking Aircraft (Silver Falcon) Flight attendants Aircraft (food service) Transportation Navigation Aircraft (landings) Aircraft (instrument flying) Airports Aircraft (light) Aircraft (DC-3) Aircraft (Lockheed F94-C) Aircraft (jet) Engines (jet) Daniels, Tommy (USAF pilot) Aircraft (Starfire) Supersonic flight Aircraft (military)

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Reviewer: Dokes - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 4, 2011

Subject: Chesterfields The part of this film I likes the best was when Godfrey lights up a Chesterfield cigarette. When you're flying, boating, or doing anything that brings a sense of satisfaction a good tobacco product makes things even more satisfying. I'll bet those Chesterfields were good back then. At 1950's quality and prices I'd have bought em not just by the carton but by the case. - January 4, 2011Chesterfields

Reviewer: Cap'n Billy - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 8, 2007

Subject: Arthur Godfrey's Excellent Adventure I just came across this account of Godfrey's flight, and was very interested as a retired TWA Captain who started his airline career in the same type aircraft (the "Connie") that was operated on this flight, albeit about 12 years after this was filmed. I flew them for about a year and Â½ near the end of its service as a commercial airliner before moving on to jets. I was quite surprised to see that he was allowed to operate a passenger flight in this manner, but I guess a lot had changed between 1953 and 1965. By the time I started with my employer it would have been unthinkable for an entertainer, even one with his aviation background, to be allowed to check out as a Captain with any airline without "coming up through the ranks." Most of us had thousands of hours of military flight time in our logbooks when we started with the airlines, and still had to spend many years before finally getting into that left seat.



I remember well all the smoking that went on in the cockpits, since I was a non-smoker! In 1965 I was still one of a distinct minority, but more of my colleagues joined me every year, and by the mid-70s the smokers were the minorities. Smoking was still allowed on airliners in 1986 when I retired, but as we all know it was finally outlawed, at least on US flag carriers.



Thanks for this little bit of DÃ© jÃ Vu! Cap'n Billy -- January 8, 2007Arthur Godfrey's Excellent Adventure

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2006

Subject: Making the Friendly Skies Even Friendlier (Though Not Smoke-Free) Arthur Godfrey hosts this film, sponsored by Eastern Airlines, where he tells us that although broadcasting is his bread and butter, his real passion is flying airplanes. He tells us all about his flying history, and shows us some early planes, but the real meat of the film is an extended section of him piloting a routine Eastern Airlines domestic flight in a Lockheed Super-Constellation. This is actually quite interesting, as he goes into detail about how a commercial airline is piloted, how to navigate over water, and how pilots use instruments to guide them when the weather prevents a visual approach. Then he shows us one of the Air ForceÃ¢ÂÂs latest jets, and an air force pilot does some stunts for us, as well as showing us what itÃ¢ÂÂs like to be in a plane when the sound barrier is broken. The film ends with an Eastern Airlines bigwig accurately predicting that jets would soon take over commercial airline flights, and inaccurately predicting that the airlines would run helicopter shuttle services between downtown areas and airports. This is an engaging film that typifies the genre of the company feel-good film. Godfrey sweeps the viewer along on various flight adventures, while soft-selling the real message of the film, which is that commercial airline fight, at least as itÃ¢ÂÂs done by Eastern, is completely safe, because nothing is left to chance. Godfrey is the perfect pitchman for this sort of thing, with all of his TV experience. In fact, his pitching goes into overdrive after awhile, causing him to plug Chesterfield cigarettes during the cruising stage (watching him and the other pilots smoke in the cockpit is a real hoot from todayÃ¢ÂÂs perspective), and to plug Air Force recruitment after the jet sequence. Overall, this is a classic example of the industrial film genre.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: **. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ****. - September 8, 2006Making the Friendly Skies Even Friendlier (Though Not Smoke-Free)

Reviewer: nilomi31 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 28, 2004

Subject: flying with Art This docu/advertisement was truly a pleasure to watch. Although 51 years later this movie still covers some things that they still use everyday in commercial aviation. Arthur made understanding several aviation concepts very simple for the average person. The footage of old planes, particulary "the connie" was fantastic. I highly reccomend this movie for every aviation enthusiast. It was even pretty entertaining with bits of unintended humor thrown in for the modern veiwer. - December 28, 2004flying with Art

Reviewer: Pithecanthropus - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 20, 2004

Subject: Gives a closeup view of the Lockheed "Connie". Excellent footage of the Lockheed Constellation, a long vanished classic airliner. However, I'd have liked to see something of the passenger cabin as well. - February 20, 2004Gives a closeup view of the Lockheed "Connie".

Reviewer: JJones - favorite favorite favorite - September 18, 2003

Subject: More than meets the Eye... There is no doubt that Godfrey is very self-confident; I love his bragging about all the plaques on his wall!!! Seriously, I thought this would be specific to flying commercial prop planes. However, there is much time spent on flying preparation, e.g . weather analysis and mechanical checks. There is also some discussion of the coming commercial jet age - with illustrations and discussion of how jet engines work - pretty cool!!! - September 18, 2003More than meets the Eye...

Reviewer: Spuzz - favorite favorite favorite - May 19, 2003

Subject: Time For A Chesterfield! Arthur Godfrey (See Classic Commercials volume 3) takes to the skies and teaches us (and um.. anyways) all the different knobs and controls of an airplane. Being an OBVIOUSLY proud pilot, he relishes every minute of this picture, which makes this plane orgy that much more interesting. After flying from New York to Miami (and having a smoke (the aformentioned Chesterfield) and a nap (!) he lands in Miami, and hooks up with some jet pilots which take him on a jet trip to demonstrate what was then newfangled jet technology. It all wraps up with Godfrey visiting the Eastern Airlines president and back slapping with him, telling us all about the future of plane travel (love the helicopter idea). This is a beautiful picture (as all Jerry Fairbanks pictures seem to be) and is quite interesting. - May 19, 2003Time For A Chesterfield!