Dublin Airport Restaurant, 1953

This is a lovely menu from the early days of Dublin Airport. Opened in 1940, the airport saw limited use until the end of the second world war, after which point its traffic grew and grew, with the first transatlantic flights starting in 1958.

The whimsical aeronautically-themed illustrations on this menu depict planes from every era of flight, from an early biplane design, to the Vickers Vimy - the first plane to fly across the Atlantic, landing in Derrygimlagh bog on 15 June 1919 - to EI-ABI, Irish national carrier Aer Lingus’s first aircraft, a De Havilland Dragon. In the centre is probably a Douglas DC-3, followed by a Bristol Freighter.

The plane designated EI-AFA is a bit of a mystery: this was the designation of an early Aer Lingus DC-3, but the aircraft depicted has four engines. We think it's probably a Vickers Viscount, but we're not sure. And as for the flying wing, we think this is a flight of fancy (sorry) from the artist, but it's possibly based on designs for the Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52, an early flying wing design from 1947.

The menu seems suited for the well-to-do folks who would have been flying in 1953. Although we are equal parts curious and alarmed as to what a dessert called “Omelette Surprise” might be…

Courtesy Private Collection.

Each print is accompanied by a copy of the interior menu where available.

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