Oddity of the Week: Santa Gets His Pilot's Licence

1 Conversation

Are you listening for the patter of tiny hooves on your roof? Would you call the cops if you heard them?

Santa Gets His Pilot's Licence

Santa gets a piloting licence from US authorities in 1927.

Question for Christmas geeks: How long has Santa had a pilot's licence?

Well, sure, he's been flying around since at least the Middle Ages. But it probably never occurred to people back then that he needed anyone's permission. But in the US in the 1920s, bureaucracy got involved. After all, you had to be licenced to fly a plane. So they made Santa get an official permit to deliver all those toys.

The historic moment was recorded for posterity by a photographer for the Harris & Ewing agency, and it is stored in the Library of Congress, which keeps all the really Important Stuff.

Happy Christmas to all, and rest easy: Santa has his goggles on. On, Dasher!

Post Quiz and Oddities Archive

Dmitri Gheorgheni

22.12.14 Front Page

Back Issue Page


Bookmark on your Personal Space


Entry

A87845241

Infinite Improbability Drive

Infinite Improbability Drive

Read a random Edited Entry


Disclaimer

h2g2 is created by h2g2's users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the Not Panicking Ltd. Unlike Edited Entries, Entries have not been checked by an Editor. If you consider any Entry to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please register a complaint. For any other comments, please visit the Feedback page.

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more