Plane Facts: Post-War Aviation

Neat and interesting facts about post-war aviation.

Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 10:06 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The post-WWII era saw a massive increase in U.S. civilian pilots, rising from 33,706 in 1939 to over half a million by 1949, largely fueled by the demobilization of approximately 2 million military pilots and the G.I. Bill's flight training benefits.
Civil aircraft manufacturing experienced a significant boom immediately after the war, with nearly 30,000 planes built from 1947-1950, though many new manufacturers like Aeronca and Globe Swift faced rapid decline or bankruptcy.
Despite the surge in pilots, airline job opportunities were scarce due to a glut of pilots, unions, and few available positions, leading to the introduction of rules like mandatory age 60 retirement for pilots.
Iconic aircraft like the Douglas DC-3 remained popular, while new and enduring models such as the Beech Bonanza (introduced in 1947 and still in production) and the Piper Super Cub (1949) emerged as staples of general aviation.

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Learn more about post-war aviation with these cool and interesting facts.

Number of U.S. civilian pilots, 1939: 33,706

Year WWII ended: 1945

Number of U.S. military personnel at war’s end: 12 million

Number stationed abroad: 7.6 million

Number in the Army Air Forces: 2.4 million

Number in AAF by mid-1947: 306, 000

Date of G.I. Bill signing: June 22, 1944

Number of G.I.s who took advantage of it: More than 5 million

One big G.I. Bill benefit: Flight training

Number of pilots demobilized after WWII: Approximately 2 million

Airliners in U.S. during the war: 360

Number of them requisitioned by the military: 200

Post-WWII airline pilot opportunities: Few

Reasons: Unions, a glut of pilots and too-few positions

Rule that resulted: Mandatory age 60 retirement

Most popular airliner pre- and immediately post-WWII: Douglas DC-3

Number of airplanes built in U.S. in 1939: 921

Number in 1944: 96,318

Number of civil planes built in U.S. 1947-1950: Almost 30,000

Year Aeronca Champ and Chief introduced: 1945

Number built 1945-1950: About 10,000

Year Aeronca ceased aircraft production: 1951

Year Globe Swift introduced: 1946

Production first six months: 833

Sales first six months: Unknown, estimated at less than 500

First bankruptcy: 1947

Purchaser: TEMCO

Number built by TEMCO: Approximately 650

Total number Swifts built 1946-1950: About 1,500

Year TEMCO went out of business: 1950

First Beech Bonanza: 1947

Number produced 1947-1948: 1,500

Years in production: 1947-present, 71 years and counting

Piper Super Cub introduced: 1949

Number built 1949-1982, 1988-1994: Around 9,000

Number of planes built in 1947: 15,594

Next year of 10,000-plus planes: 1965

Number built in 1951: 2,302

First supersonic flight: 1947, Bell X-1 Rocket plane

Number of U.S. civilian pilots, 1949: 525,194

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