Up in the Air: An Issue of Privilege

Learning about the basic physics and controls of flying an airplane was very interesting, especially because I had equated flying with driving a car, which only operates on a 2-axis field. Throughout our last few weeks of learning about the history of flight, beginning with Kitty Hawk and through the solo flight of Lindbergh, I've noticed a large trend that also fully extends into space travel as well. In order to go UP, you have to overcome many barriers to entry, such as capital wealth, (dis)ability, and race.

This began even in the 1950s, with print advertisements showing the luxury of flying abroad. In all of these ads, the individuals are white, able-bodied, middle class heterosexual couples or families enjoying the experience of flying.



This ad below even plays on the idea of "up" and how the airline is growing up with the family. In the ad below, a new "family fare" promotion lets the man pay full fare and lets the wife and children go for half price.

During class, I was intrigued to learn of the ways in which people travel independently when they hold their own pilot's license. Cross country travel is a privilege that not many possess, but acknowledging the historic barriers of class, race, and disability into the discussion of flight is central to understanding where the future of "up" goes. 

https://www.inverse.com/article/6301-seeing-earth-from-space-will-force-rich-space-tourists-to-save-the-planet