The F-24 C8F was powered by a Ranger L-440 engine of 145 hp. 40 examples were built in 1936. You could buy one for $5390 - about $120,000 in 2024 money. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

Life's photos from the Long Island Aviation Club are all dated 1937. For most pictures this is credible, with many of the planes new that year and the F-4 Sea Bird, NX16793, sold as CF-BGZ in September. However, a photo of a blackboard with the club's fleet shows dates up to June 1938, so it seems that Eisenstaedt visited twice. NC17177 was cancelled in July 1938 so we put that as the end date for some of the shots. It was last registered to Leech Aircraft of Westchester Airport, NY, which was a Stinson dealer. The fate of this Reliant is unclear. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

Built in 1937. Served with Star Air Lines in Alaska later on. N17454 cancelled in 2009. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

This 1937 Waco is still current as of 2024 and it still seems to wear this paint scheme - pale blue with white and red trim. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

A playground for the rich of Long Island, with swimming pool. The Monocoupe is preserved in the College Park Aviation Museum, Maryland. We think the second aircraft is NC17102, a Stinson SR-8E. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

Delivered in January 1937 to Roger Wolfe Kahn (1907-1962), jazz musician, composer, and Grumman test pilot! In 1941 he acquired a G-44 Widgeon, also NC1700. The L-10 was impressed as a C-36A, 42-38341, in 1942, but written off within a few months. The second aircraft is a rare Fairchild 45A, NC16864, and next is the Fleetwings F-4 Sea Bird, NX16793. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

One of just six Sparrowhawk light racers built, ex G-ADWW. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

Impressed in 1942 as a C-36A, 42-38342. To CF-BXE in 1943. Listed with Maritime Central Airways. To N2405 in 1969. Withdrawn from use in 2005. Registration expired in 2011. Reported stored in New Jersey. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

James Reddig, the designer of the stainless steel Sea Bird, was a member of the exclusive Long Island Aviation Country Club. NX16793, the four-seat prototype, went to a Canadian mining company as CF-BGZ in September 1937. This would confirm that some of Alfred Eisenstaedt's shots from Hicksville were taken in 1937, but he also seems to have visited in 1938 - see photo 654843. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

Situated between Roosevelt Field, Mitchel Field and the Grumman airfield in Bethpage, the Long Island Aviation Country Club ran an airfield between 1929 and 1948 for the island's affluent private flyers. This Fairchild 24 was built nearby at Farmingdale in 1937. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life