aviation history

Jimmy Doolittle was a man of firsts. First flight across the country. First flight solely by reference to instruments. First successful outside loop. In fact, it could be said that he is, in many ways, responsible for flying as we know it. Yet it was the U.S. air raid of Tokyo on April 18, 1942, […]

Little known or remembered today, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet paved the way for the modern jet airliner. You might consider its history the next time you take an airline flight. As you look out the terminal window at jet-powered rides, note the elegant profile, swept wings, and sleek tail surfaces of the aircraft on the […]

The history of general aviation will be on public display overhead in Washington, D.C., on May 11 as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) hosts a “parade of airplanes” over the National Mall. In 1939, Franklin Roosevelt was the first sitting president to recognize GA, according to AOPA president Mark Baker. This year also […]

As a major milestone along the march of aviation’s year, central Florida’s Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo  in Lakeland, Florida, gives cold-weary northerners a much-needed boost from the leftover winter.  It’s not that we can’t fly during the short, colder days. It’s just not worth the bother in the frozen states. Bundling up for the […]

A World War II bomber copilot never made it home to his bride, but she kept his love letters for life.

There are countless stories of heroics stemming from World War II. The “Greatest Generation” fought battles both in the Pacific and Europe. Many never came home. But thanks to one man with a crazy idea, many men who would have otherwise never made it to see the end of the war did, in fact, return […]

Women aviators from the U.S. and across the globe are set to embark on the 47th Air Race Classic (ARC) on Tuesday, June 18, commemorating the 95th anniversary of the historic Women’s Air Derby. The race covers a challenging 2,628-statute-mile route across 11 states, with the finish line awaiting at Northern Colorado Regional Airport in […]

While aviation history is filled with tales of legendary pilots who captured the world’s imagination, there are unsung heroes whose remarkable achievements have often been overshadowed. Join us as we shine a spotlight on seven overlooked aviators whose contributions to flight deserve recognition. 1. Eugene Bullard: World War I African American Fighter Pilot Long before […]

Many of us started “pandemic projects” in the last few years, picking up a craft or hobby that helped keep us focused and sane during lockdowns. People raised chickens or learned new skills, and some started flight training. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., has also been working on a project […]

Pioneering aviator and cultural icon Amelia Earhart captured the imagination of multiple generations. While she is perhaps most famous for her mysterious disappearance now, she was a well-known and accomplished personality in her own time, friends with the likes of Bing Crosby and Eleanor Roosevelt. She set or broke several aviation records, cheered on the […]