Aviation History

An example of an early 1904 pilot license issued by the Aero-Club de France for ballonists

Flying Becomes A Thing It's September 19, 1783, in Versailles, France, when the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Etienne, loaded the wicker basket attached to a cotton canvas balloon named Le Revei...

The First Female Naval Aviator

Barbara Ann Allen Ms. Allen was the daughter of a U.S. Naval Officer and was born at Bethesda Naval Hospital on August 20, 1948. It seems that she was always destined to be a U.S. Navy officer rig...

The "Samoan Clipper"

A new Sikorsky S-42B owned by Pan American Airways begins service across the Pacific between Honolulu and Auckland, New Zealand. Unfortunately, disaster awaited the plane and crew.

Photo of a Douglas DC-3 aircraft which was destined to become one of the most important airliners in history.

Eric Hilliard Nelson

An avoidable accident takes the life of a famous singer, his girlfriend, and his band, all due to poor pilot training.

The Potsdam Conference in 1945 with the Prime Minister of Britian Atlee, President Truman of the US and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union.

Mine Is Bigger

After World War II the United States and the Soviet Union became competitors and adversaries, each seeking to outdo the other. In order to ease these tensions, a number of summits were held, which ...

Drawing of Noel Wien, known as "the Arctic Ace", "the Lindy of the North", and "the father of Alaska bush fling."

The Father of Alaska Bush Flying

Noel Wien was a pilot and pioneer for aviation in Alaska. Starting from humble beginnings, Noel managed to create the first airline in Alaska and one of the first airlines in the United States. Wei...

The "Skunk Works"

In the past, the U.S. military has called upon companies to design and test the most advanced aircraft in the world. Who Do You Call? During World War II there were a number of aircraft manufacture...

Pictured is the SR-71, unofficially known as the “Blackbird,” was a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft

How An Airplane Lands Almost A Day Before It Took Off!

Really? Well, yes, and this is a true story! Aircraft Lands 17 hours 30 Minutes Before Takeoff What? Has someone built a time machine? No, but it is true, and this is the story as related by the ...

Jackie Moddridge, aka The Spitfire Girl, in front of a multi-engine aircraft in her pilot's uniform.

Jackie Moggridge, Spitfire Girl

On March 1, 1922, in Pretoria, South Africa, a young girl named Dolores Theresa Sorour was born. During her childhood, she was taken by the performance of a female hockey player named Jackie Rissik...

Sean D. Tucker, aerobatic pilot sponsored by Randolph Engineering, Inc., airborne passing the Statue of Liberty in New York City

Sean D. Tucker, Aerobatic Pilot Extraordinaire

Sean D. Tucker is an extraordinary aerobatic pilot and early in his career was sponsored by Randolph Engineering, Inc. The idea was to promote the new competitor to the American Optical Original Pi...

William J. Knight, the test pilot who set a world speed of 4,520 miles per hour, or Mach 6.7record on October 3, 1967 of

William J. Knight - The World's Fastest Pilot

William (Pete) Knight was born on November 18, 1929, in Noblesville, Indiana, and went on to live an extraordinary life ranging from racehorse jockey to a member of the California Senate from 1996 ...

A painting of Dan Pedersen, father of the Naval Fighter Weapons School, more commonly known as "Top Gun"

The Real "Top Gun" School!

Top Gun 2 is all the rage these days and is the follow-on to the 1986 movie "Top Gun" with Maverick and Goose. Is this all fiction and movie fun, or is there really a "Top Gun" school for naval and...