Flying High

"Flying High" is a single-player electro-mechanical pinball machine from February 1953, crafted by D. Gottlieb & Company under the guidance of designer Wayne Neyens, with artwork by Roy Parker. Its aviation theme - airplanes, airports, and the romance of flying - captured a subject with broad appeal in the early 1950s, and the game saw a confirmed production run of 1,400 units.

Gameplay-wise, "Flying High" offers a well-stocked playfield for its era. Two flippers allow players to navigate the playfield, while a pair of pop bumpers adds action up top. Seven passive bumpers, two slingshots, and eight trap holes create a dynamic environment that rewards strategic thinking and timing. Notably, "Flying High" has no outlanes, an unusual configuration that changes how balls drain and gives the lower playfield its own character.

Roy Parker's artwork is reminiscent of the era's commercial aviation imagery, with stylized illustrations of airplanes and airfields. Its combination of a trap-hole-heavy layout and travel-themed charm makes it an appealing piece for collectors and historians of early-1950s Gottlieb pinball.