To read The History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Part 1: WWI, click here. Post-WWI: Target and Assault Drones Interwar Years After World War I, the aviation industry advanced exponentially. These advancements (particularly within the air transport sector) hindered the testing and operation of unmanned systems. As post-war hostilities decreased, so did military interest in unmanned flight; [...]
Bob Hoover is among the elite of the aviation world. Although this American icon of heroism and aviation prowess passed away Tuesday, October 25, he legacy will certainly live on. Robert Anderson “Bob” Hoover was born January 24, 1922. At 15, he began flying at Nashville’s Berry Field while working at a local grocery store [...]
It might seem reasonable to assume that aerial warfare didn’t begin until the 20th century—after all, that’s when the Wright Bros invented and flew the first successful airplane (The Wright Flyer). In a way, this is completely valid. However, technically speaking, the history of aerial warfare is an ancient one. Lowe in his balloon "Intrepid" on [...]
Let slip the dogs of war Antis and Robert Bozděch (source: Daily Mail) January 1940: Phoney War. Václav Robert Bozděch and Pierre Duval were on a reconnaissance mission over the German front in their twin-seater Potez 630 aircraft when they were hit by anti-aircraft fire. They crashed in no-mans land between the French [...]
The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation Keeps the Spirit Alive In 1988, one pilot founded The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation with the goal of preserving the memory and legacy of "the greatest humanitarian and aviation event in history": The Berlin Airlift. At the end of WWII, a defeated Germany was divided into four sectors [...]
The man who wore many hats (although it's possible it was just a snake that swallowed an elephant) While the name Antoine de Saint-Exupéry might not resonate with you right away, there’s a good chance that you’re more familiar with him—or his work—than you might think. Ever hear of The Little Prince (or Le Petit [...]
Recently, A few of us here at The Flight Blog got the chance to head to a World War II reenactment event in Reading Pennsylvania to meet up with Tim Chopp of the Berlin Airlift Foundation to talk with him about his project. While interviewing with him, we had the pleasure of getting a personal [...]
Q: What does a spaceplane and a Dodo bird have in common? A: Neither flew before their demise (but I’m sure now, given the chance, both the X-20 and the extinct Dodo would be pros at some R. Kelly karaoke…but that’s just a hunch). And sure, there are probably more differences between a bird and [...]
Boeing B-17E. (U.S. Air Force photo) Top speed: 287 mph Length: 74’ Wingspan: 104’0’ First flight: 28 July 1935 Introduction: April 1938 Production: 1936-1945 Retired: 1968 (Brazilian Air Force) "Flying Fortress" The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a four-engine heavy bomber, was built in response to a competition put forth by the U.S. Army [...]
“CAUTION: Children (and adults) at play” Spruce Creek is a community like no other. Located in Port Orange, Florida, Spruce Creek is a residential airpark (or fly-in community) considered the most famous of its kind. With almost 5,000 residents, 1,300 hones, and 700 hangars (and a few plots still available), Spruce Creek is the largest [...]
