Aviation History

May 24, 1976: Concorde Begins Regular Service to the United States — Supersonic Aviation History
May 24, 1976: Concorde Begins Regular Service to the United States — Supersonic Aviation History
|Randall Wagnon
On May 24, 1976, Air France and British Airways launched simultaneous supersonic Concorde services to Washington Dulles International Airport, marking the beginning of regular commercial supersonic service to the United... Read more...
May 23, 1949: The de Havilland Beaver First Flies — The Ultimate Bush Plane
May 23, 1949: The de Havilland Beaver First Flies — The Ultimate Bush Plane
|Randall Wagnon
On August 16, 1947, the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver made its first flight — and went on to become one of the most beloved and versatile aircraft in aviation... Read more...
May 22, 1906: The Wright Brothers Patent Their Flying Machine — The Foundation of All Flight
May 22, 1906: The Wright Brothers Patent Their Flying Machine — The Foundation of All Flight
|Randall Wagnon
On May 22, 1906, Orville and Wilbur Wright received United States Patent No. 821,393 for their 'Flying Machine' — the legal recognition of the invention that had changed everything. The... Read more...
May 21, 1927: Lindbergh Lands in Paris — And Changes the World
May 21, 1927: Lindbergh Lands in Paris — And Changes the World
|Randall Wagnon
At 10:22 p.m. on May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis touched down at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, completing the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight in history.... Read more...
May 20, 1927: Lindbergh Takes Off — The Most Famous Takeoff in Aviation History
May 20, 1927: Lindbergh Takes Off — The Most Famous Takeoff in Aviation History
|Randall Wagnon
At 7:52 a.m. on May 20, 1927, a young airmail pilot named Charles Lindbergh pushed the throttle forward on his Spirit of St. Louis, rolled down a muddy runway at... Read more...
May 19, 1919: Harry Hawker's Transatlantic Attempt — Courage Before Lindbergh
May 19, 1919: Harry Hawker's Transatlantic Attempt — Courage Before Lindbergh
|Randall Wagnon
On May 18-19, 1919, British pilot Harry Hawker and navigator Kenneth Mackenzie-Grieve took off from Newfoundland in a Sopwith Atlantic biplane, attempting to become the first to fly the North... Read more...
May 18, 1969: Apollo 10 Launches — The Dress Rehearsal for the Moon
May 18, 1969: Apollo 10 Launches — The Dress Rehearsal for the Moon
|Randall Wagnon
On May 18, 1969, NASA launched Apollo 10 — the final dress rehearsal before the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Crewed by Tom Stafford, John Young, and Gene Cernan, Apollo... Read more...
May 17, 1986: Grumman F-14 Tomcat — The Legend of Top Gun Lives On
May 17, 1986: Grumman F-14 Tomcat — The Legend of Top Gun Lives On
|Randall Wagnon
Released on May 16, 1986, Top Gun introduced the world to the F-14 Tomcat and ignited a passion for naval aviation that still burns bright today. The film's anniversary each... Read more...
May 16, 1939: Pan Am's Yankee Clipper Crosses the Atlantic — The Flying Boat Era
May 16, 1939: Pan Am's Yankee Clipper Crosses the Atlantic — The Flying Boat Era
|Randall Wagnon
On May 16, 1939, Pan American's Boeing 314 Clipper — the Yankee Clipper — completed the first transatlantic airmail service flight from Port Washington, New York to Lisbon, Portugal. It... Read more...
May 15, 1930: Ellen Church Becomes the First Flight Attendant — Aviation's Unsung Heroes
May 15, 1930: Ellen Church Becomes the First Flight Attendant — Aviation's Unsung Heroes
|Randall Wagnon
On May 15, 1930, registered nurse Ellen Church became the first female flight attendant in history, taking to the skies on a United Air Lines Boeing 80A between San Francisco... Read more...
May 14, 1973: Skylab Launches — Where Aviation Meets the Stars
May 14, 1973: Skylab Launches — Where Aviation Meets the Stars
|Randall Wagnon
On May 14, 1973, NASA launched Skylab, America's first space station, atop a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center. For aviators and aerospace enthusiasts, Skylab represents the ultimate extension... Read more...
May 13, 1958: The Birth of NORAD — Aviation Defense History
May 13, 1958: The Birth of NORAD — Aviation Defense History
|Randall Wagnon
On May 12, 1958, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was formally established through an agreement between the United States and Canada. NORAD became — and remains — the... Read more...