I HATE it when facts ruin a perfectly good theoy!
Grumble Grumble Grumble Grumble
Yes, it was possible to fly, but many folks traveled by ship. Why as late as the early 1970’s, even Professor Gates traveled to England (and in style—the QE II!) to go to grad school.
In 1961, it was still the dawn of the jet age. Ship was cheaper.
It’s the search for the facts that’s important. Shows your intellectual honesty! (I lose more good theories that way...)