On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first sustained, powered flight of a heavier-than-air machine under the complete control of the pilot. You might know the headline about their history-making flight at Kitty Hawk, but do you know the rest of their story? The Wright brothers’ story is a wonderful example of the entrepreneurial spirit that has made America great! The brothers’ interest in aviation started early. Their father once gave them a rubber-band po

On this day in 1969, Pete Conrad and Alan Bean become the third and fourth humans to walk on the Moon. But did you know that they almost didn’t make it to the Moon at all?  Apollo 12 nearly ended in disaster because of a lightning strike.   Apollo 12 tends to get lost in the shadows of the more famous Apollos 11 and 13.  The former, of course, put Neil Armstrong on the Moon. The latter struggled to return to Earth after an oxygen tank exploded in space.   Too bad, because the

On this day in 1921, a future flying Ace is born in Watertown, Massachusetts. Fred Christensen’s love of flying started early, when a friend’s father took him up in a plane as a teenager.   “From a very early age,” his daughter Diane would explain years later, “he did anything he could to get to the airport or befriend those at school whose dads had planes. As children, we thought he could fly without wings.”   Christensen joined the Army soon after the Japanese attack on Pea

On this day in 1929, renowned aviator Jimmy Doolittle completes the first blind flight. Today, airplanes make instrument landings all the...

On this day in 1984, retired Air Force Colonel Joseph Kittinger completes a solo balloon flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip was...

On this day in 1935, an aviation entrepreneur is tragically killed. Wiley Post had risen above poverty, prison, and even losing an eye to...

On this day in 1977, the Space Shuttle Enterprise  makes its first free flight. Did you know that NASA built an orbiter than never went...

On this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart receives a Distinguished Flying Cross. She’d just become the first female—and the second person...

On this day in 1938, an American aviator “accidentally” makes a trip across the Atlantic in a single-engine plane. Douglas Corrigan would...

On this day in 1918, Lt. Douglas Campbell becomes the first all-American flying ace. Despite this feat and despite his service with...

On this day in 1937, the Hindenburg catches fire and crashes in New Jersey. Somewhat ironically, the airship was then celebrating the one...

On this day in 1977, Delta flight 1080 nearly ends in tragedy. Fortunately, former Marine Captain Jack McMahan was at the controls: His...

On this day in 1944, a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots is tragically killed. Evelyn “Sharpie” Sharp has been called...

On this day in 1964, an aviation pioneer departs on a record-setting trip. Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock flew around the world—the first time a...

On this day in 1923, Chuck Yeager is born. The legendary pilot is perhaps best known for being the first to break the sound barrier, but...

On this day in 1920, an American hero is born. Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. is often remembered as the first black man to become a...

On this day in 1918, a member of the United States military, wearing an American uniform and acting under American colors, scores an...

On this day in 2015, a World War II hero passes away. Alexander “Alex” Vraciu was perhaps best known for his actions during the Battle of...

On this day in 1960, a plane carrying the Cal Poly football team crashes in Ohio. The tragedy was the first airline crash involving a...

On this day in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first United States President to fly in an airplane. Presidents board airplanes on a routine basis these days, but back then, the move was viewed as inherently risky. “Col. Roosevelt defied death late yesterday,” one 1910 newspaper blared, “when he went up in an aeroplane with Aviator Arch Hoxsey.” Perhaps, though, Americans were used to the former Rough Rider’s love of adventure? By then, Roosevelt was an ex-President who’d