DC-3s are still flying. Just a few years ago, wife and I flew Air Libertad from Huatulco to Oaxaca, Mexico. Slow and comfortable, we flew between the mountain peaks low enough that I could see people coming and going below.
The technology that came out of WW2 and the confident freedom of the '50's made us the biggest dog in the pack ... we were the leader!
Obama wants to make us just another mutt.