At the time of this film, Glendale Grand Central Air Terminal served as the regional airport of Los Angeles. American Airlines began flying from that location in the early 1930's. The air field served the area through WW2 and is now an historical landmark. Its distinctive buildings were the backdrop for many aeronautical film stories of the era.
First starring role for Joan Fontaine. RKO gave her special billing at the end of this film, calling her the "new RKO screen personality".
An early American Airlines plane is seen here, with its distinctive eagle logo. The word Airlines was not added until later, however. AA was first created in 1930, from a merger of a number of small local airlines.
The first commercial air stewardesses began flying in 1930. They were trained nurses as well as hostesses. Prior to this, male stewards served on passenger air journeys, serving in various capacities. The airlines felt that passengers would feel safer if registered nurses were on board, as travel sickness was very common on early air journeys.
The airplane Jim is depicted as crashing during bad weather is a Stinson Reliant. 1,327 were made from 1933 to 1941. Many were pressed into service during WW2 as training, light transport and liaison aircraft.