Podded turbojets fitted to early jet airliners, such as the Douglas DC-8, made handling very different to their propliner predecessors. Not only was there no induced lift, but turbojets also took much longer to accelerate from idle to full power.

Shrinking military budgets result in smaller airforces.

Pan American Airways received a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser simulator in 1948. While no motion or visual systems were installed, it replicated the appearance and behaviour of a real cockpit in every other way.

The training captain of a large piston-powered multi-engine aircraft, such as a Lockheed Constellation, had many advantages. For example, the engines usually accelerated promptly and the propwash over the wings produced a phenomenon known as 'induced lift'. This meant that a big handful of power could often salvage a low, slow approach.

Shrinking military budgets result in smaller airforces.

While the principles of flight remain the same, flight deck architecture has changed massively over the past half-century.

Many aspiring flyers worked their way up to the airlines via the 'self-improver' route. This often involved gliding-towing work.

Shrinking military budgets result in smaller airforces.

One of the biggest challenges facing the airline industry is the growing shortage of pilots.