In Praise of Unusual Flying Objects

2 minute read

They’re out there: weirdly shaped vessels and creatures in strange garb, flying — often silently — above the earth, their purpose a riddle; their means of propulsion and navigation a mystery; their ultimate ambition and destination an enigma.

Wait. We meant to say “reportedly.” Reportedly they’re out there — unidentified flying objects, perhaps from other solar systems, other galaxies, other civilizations, checking us out, gauging whether we humans are advanced enough to contact and parley with. (Or, depending on how pessimistic one is about both human and extraterrestrial nature, they’re mulling whether we’re ripe for enslavement, or tasty enough to be made into a kind of galactic goulash.)

[MORE: Read Lev Grossman’s TIME cover story on “what happens when drones return home” to America]

This gallery, meanwhile, isn’t about the technical specs of those hypothetical alien vessels or the possible temperaments or appetites of their purely conjectural pilots. Instead, LIFE.com celebrates readily identifiable, albeit unusual flying objects made locally — that is to say, here on Earth: blimps big and small; early helicopters; jet packs; and other devices that, through the years, have helped humanity, if only for a moment, slip the bonds of earth or return safely to the ground after ascending into the sky.

So, it turns out that the rumors and the whispers are true. They’re out there, all right: weirdly shaped vessels and (our fellow) creatures in strange garb, floating and soaring above the earth. And until ET makes a confirmed, documented, verifiable landing hereabouts, we’ll stick with singing the praises of the flying machines and other inventions that, through the years, have been conceived and built by our fellow earthlings.

Slinky-like light pattern produced by light-tipped rotor blades of a helicopter as it takes off into the dark sky, 1949.
Slinky-like pattern produced by light-tipped rotor blades of a helicopter as it takes off into the dark sky, 1949.Andreas Feininger—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Ascending gondola trailing disk-shaped radio antenna during lift-off for high-altitude flight to observe the planet Venus, 1959.
Ascending gondola trailing disk-shaped radio antenna during lift-off for high-altitude flight to observe the planet Venus, 1959.Michael Rougier—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Amphibious U.S. Navy plane, 1940.
Amphibious U.S. Navy plane, 1940.Carl Mydans—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A "K190" helicopter attempting a three-point landing atop the heads of three women holding plywood squares as landing "pads," 1948.
A "K190" helicopter attempting a three-point landing atop the heads of three women holding plywood squares as landing "pads," 1948.Bernard Hoffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A man drops a briefcase into the basket on the nose of a helicopter, 1942.
A man drops a briefcase into the basket on the nose of a helicopter, 1942.Dmitri Kessel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A parachute jumper testing equipment for the Irving Air Chute Co. gets some help while struggling to reel in his billowing chute, 1937.
A parachute jumper testing equipment for the Irving Air Chute Co. gets some help while struggling to reel in his billowing chute, 1937.Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Children try to catch toys that were released by a kite, 1949.
Children try to catch toys that were released by a kite, 1949.Bernard Hoffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Stunt man Jack Wylie soars over the Chicago River, 1958.
Stunt man Jack Wylie soars over the Chicago River, 1958.Al Fenn—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Test flight of the "strap-on" helicopter, 1957.
Test flight of the "strap-on" helicopter, 1957.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Flying platform being tested at an Air Force base, 1956.
Flying platform being tested at an Air Force base, 1956.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Bell engineer Harold Graham demonstrating the "Rocket Belt" at Fort Bragg in 1961.
Bell engineer Harold Graham demonstrating the "Rocket Belt" at Fort Bragg in 1961.Ed Clark—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Balloon being inflated in preparation for high-altitude ascent, 1959.
Balloon being inflated in preparation for high-altitude ascent, 1959.Michael Rougier—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
American paratroopers landing in Korea, with one ripped chute still holding enough air to drop safely, 1950.
American paratroopers landing in Korea, with one ripped chute still holding enough air to drop safely, 1950.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A blimp above New York, 1961.
A blimp above New York, 1961.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A plane swerves toward LIFE photographer Allan Grant as one rocket motor fails to start, 1949.
A plane swerves toward LIFE photographer Allan Grant as one rocket motor fails to start, 1949.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The "Pulsa," a collapsible one-man helicopter, 1952.
The "Pulsa," a collapsible one-man helicopter, 1952.J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Men anchor a huge balloon, 1941.
Men anchor a huge balloon, 1941.John Phillips—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
An observation balloon spotting for a 155mm gun at Fort Bragg, 1940.
An observation balloon spotting for a 155mm gun at Fort Bragg, 1940.David E. Scherman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A blimp lands at a Naval air station in 1942.
A blimp lands at a Naval air station in 1942.William C. Shrout—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Model of the "Space Ark" rocket ship from the sci-fi classic, "When Worlds Collide" 1951
Model of the "Space Ark" rocket ship from the sci-fi classic, When Worlds Collide, 1951.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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