BALSA AIRPLANE FLYING MACHINE TOY

In 1927, following Charles Lindbergh’s famous solo trans-Atlantic flight, popularity of all things flying soared. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for U.S. Navy Aviator Paul K. Guillow, who had created a line of balsa wood model airplane kits only a year before. This is the original Flying Machine, a sleek long-distance flyer featuring a plastic propeller, nose bearing and landing gear.