airplaneful

plural airplanesful

1. Enough to fill an airplane.

   The pilot of an airplaneful of spirit guests.

   1935 March 26, Henry Vance, “The Coal Bin: Things We Wouldn’t Like to Be”, in The Birmingham News, 48th year, number 11, Birmingham, Ala., page eight

   5 more examples

   Economists, experts, lobbyists, ghost writers, woman’s organization speakers, lawyers, public relations counsels, and what-have-you’s were hurled at NRA literally by the airplaneful.

   1933, Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter and New York Druggists’ Price Current, page 30

   We hear a great deal, in these machine-motivated days, about ‘air-conditioning’ — by which it is meant that a houseful of air, or a trainful or an airplaneful, can now be adjusted in both temperature and humidity to suit individual human tastes or general human needs.

   1942, William Holmes Wenstrom, Weather and the Ocean of Air, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Company, page 212

   My, there are a lot of people! (two airplanesful) Yes, there are as many as two airplanesful.

   1966, Richard B. Noss and Im Proum with the assistance of Dale I. Purtle and Someth Suos, Cambodian Basic Course, volumes one (units 1–45), Washington, D.C.: Foreign Service Institute, page 349

   To obtain a contract, the R and D companies submit technical report proposals by the airplaneful to the various granting agencies.

   1967, Proceedings, Agricultural Extension Service, page 10

   “[…]All a stewardess is,” she [Gabriella Peele] quipped, “is a hostess giving a party for an airplaneful of people.”

   1973 May 16, Margie Davidson, “A Stewardess’ Career Slows Just a Little With Marriage”, in The News and Observer, volume CCXV, number 136, Raleigh, N.C., page 13