The Concept of the Mile High Club is Older Than Airplanes

These days, the only things we hear about flying are usually negative—poor experiences, horrible customer service, and exorbitant costs. However, back when air travel was simpler, people were more concerned with absurdities like the subpar cuisine and, of course, the mile high club.

According to legend, he gave Cynthia Polk a unique form of flying lesson in late November 1916 while operating a Curtiss Flying Boat C2 500 feet above the coast of Long Island (whose husband was driving an ambulance in war-torn France). However, the two managed to accidentally bump and disable the autopilot during their aerial shenanigans, dropping their jet into Great South Bay where they were both found to be completely naked and rescued by duck hunters.

If you're unaware, that's the innocent-sounding term for engaging in sexual activity while flying. People will do it again because they have in the past. What is more shocking is that the concept itself predates airplanes. If Derby could perform a specific act with a woman "one thousand yards from the earth" in a hot air balloon, Cholmondeley would pay 500 guineas. Unknown whether Derby won the wager or not.