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September 22, 2025 20 mins

The Golden Age of Air Travel: When Flying Was Luxury transports you back to the 1930s — an era when every passenger was treated like royalty and air travel was an exclusive privilege of the elite. In this episode of Above the Clouds: The Untold Stories of Aviation, VIP Jets Founder Robert Wilkos explores how commercial aviation set new standards of elegance, service, and prestige that continue to inspire private aviation today.

From the Douglas DC-3 to Pan Am’s luxurious flying boats, discover how airlines competed on service, comfort, and sophistication rather than price. Learn how Hollywood stars, business leaders, and cultural icons embraced aviation not only as transportation but as a symbol of success, status, and opportunity.

✈️ Key Moments:

  • The Douglas DC-3 and the rise of luxury airliners

  • Pan Am’s global flying boat adventures across the Pacific

  • Hollywood’s role in shaping aviation’s glamorous image

  • How first-class service became aviation’s defining feature

  • The legacy of the 1930s that private aviation preserves today

🌍 For more leadership insights and stories from Robert Wilkos, visit RobertWilkos.com. To explore the world of private flight and the future of luxury aviation, head to RobertWilkosAviation.com.

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