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This Day in History: The first trans-Atlantic crossing in a balloon
On this day in 1978, three Americans land a helium gas balloon, Double Eagle II, in France. They’d just become the first to cross the...
tara
Aug 17, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Mary Feik, aviation heroine
On this day in 2016, an aviation heroine passes away. Mary Feik was the first female aviation engineer to serve our country during World...
tara
Jun 10, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The First Transatlantic Crossing
On this day in 1919, a U.S. Navy seaplane lands in Lisbon, Portugal, completing the very first transatlantic flight. Charles Lindbergh’s...
tara
May 27, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The Lafayette Escadrille
On this day in 1916, American pilots take to the skies at the Battle of Verdun. They’d volunteered to fight, even though the United...
tara
May 13, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Harriet Quimby, the woman who inspired Amelia Earhart
On this day in 1912, Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly across the English Channel. Perhaps she’s the most famous female...
tara
Apr 16, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Tiny Broadwick, aviation pioneer
On this day in 1893, a future aviation heroine is born. Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick has been called the “First Lady of Parachuting.” Tiny...
tara
Apr 7, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Operation Varsity
On this day in 1945, Allied forces determine that “organized resistance has now ceased” in western Germany. Just one day earlier, Allied...
tara
Mar 25, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Air raid on Tokyo
On this day in 1945, the United States Army Air Forces launches an unprecedented air raid on Tokyo, Japan. To date, it remains the single...
tara
Mar 9, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The 1966 NASA T-38 crash
On this day in 1966, two astronauts are tragically killed as they travel from Houston to St. Louis. Elliot See and Charles Bassett were...
tara
Feb 28, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The first U.S. Navy aviator
On this day in 1885, Theodore “Spuds” Ellyson is born. Exactly 43 years later, he would be tragically killed—on his birthday. He was the...
tara
Feb 27, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The lost story of Lady Be Good
On this day in 1960, a British oil exploration team makes an unexpected discovery, helping to solve an old World War II mystery. What...
tara
Feb 11, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Louis Curdes's unusual Air Medal
On this day in 1945, USAAF Captain Louis E. Curdes shoots down an American C-47, forcing it to crash land in the ocean. Legend has it...
tara
Feb 10, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Captain Sully's Miracle
On this day in 1951, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is born. Captain Sully is best known for successfully crash landing an airplane in the...
tara
Jan 23, 20224 min read
This Day in History: Glenn L. Martin, an early aviation hero, is born
On this day in 1886, Glenn L. Martin is born. He’s possibly the biggest aviation hero that you’ve never heard of. He is the “Martin” in...
tara
Jan 17, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Eastern Airlines Flight 401
On this day in 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashes in the Everglades. The jumbo jet had been making a late evening flight from New...
tara
Dec 29, 20213 min read
This Day in History: The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk
On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first sustained, powered flight of a heavier-than-air machine under the complete...
tara
Dec 17, 20213 min read
This Day in History: WWII Pilot Gertrude Tompkins
On this day in 1944, an elite American female pilot climbs into a P-51D Mustang fighter. Gertrude Tompkins Silver was tasked with...
tara
Oct 26, 20213 min read
This Day in History: Calvin Spann, Tuskegee Airman
On this day in 2015, Lt. Calvin J. Spann passes away at the age of 90. Decades earlier, he’d been one of the original members of the...
tara
Sep 6, 20213 min read
This Day in History: Howard Hughes flies around the world
On this day in 1938, Howard Hughes nears the end of his flight around the world. He wasn’t the first to make such a flight, but he was...
tara
Jul 10, 20213 min read
This Day in History: Amelia Earhart’s final flight
On this day in 1937, Amelia Earhart lands her twin-engine airplane in New Guinea. She and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were attempting to...
tara
Jun 29, 20213 min read
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