We’ve briefly highlighted Bessie Coleman in the past, but her accomplishments as an aviator warrant a full pilot profile. Lovingly known as “Queen Bess,” Bessie Coleman had an impressive career in aviation and worked hard to earn her license. Becoming Bessie Born on January 26 in 1892, Bessie would grow up to become the first [...]
Take yourself back to the early days of aviation. Just how far back you go is really up to you. Mankind's been fascinated with flight for centuries before we ever got into the air by means of a plane. You can start in 1903, as we are so inclined to do, when the Wright Brothers [...]
If you’ve ever had the window seat on a flight, you may have looked out of it and admired the aerial view. The small, triple-paned glass does not provide a full panoramic view, but it usually gives enough visibility to enjoy the scenery. The oval-shaped windows may seem to stylistically go well with the sleek shape [...]
The British Hawker Hurricane was one of the most important fighters for the Royal Air Force early on in WWII. It, along with the Supermarine Spitfire, earned victory laurels during both the Battle of Britain and the defense of Malta. While the Spitfire was the more popular of the two, the Hurricane served in all [...]
Jet lag is problematic. You travel on an airplane for an extended amount of time and a feeling of fatigue and discomfort overcomes you upon reaching your destination. Our bodies try to compensate and you can take some steps to help fight it, too. However, what if the airplane you were on worked to fight jet [...]
There are a lot of natural occurrences that can affect an airplane’s flight. From geese and drones to snow and fog, a plane's takeoff or landing can be delayed. But what about headwinds and tailwinds? One works with and the other works against a plane’s flight. Ever wonder why, for example, a return flight takes [...]
Albert S. "Scott" Crossfield was a Navy fighter pilot and flight instructor. Born on October 2, 1921, Crossfield attended the University of Washington to study aeronautical engineering. He eventually dropped out and instead graduated from civilian aviation school before obtaining his private pilot’s license. He shifted back and forth between working at Boeing Aircraft Company [...]
National Business Aviation Association The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is an organization that focuses on supporting business aviation interests. In doing so, the organization and its members work to foster an environment that allows the business aviation industry to thrive both in the U.S. and around the world. FBAA was founded in 1947 and [...]
The U.S. was experiencing a shortage of pilots during World War II. In efforts to find a way to fill that gap, women were trained to fly military aircraft. This group of women is known as The Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs. The Development of WASP In 1942, trained pilots were off fighting for [...]
Starting out as a WWII aircraft for the U.S. Navy, the Grumman G-21 Goose evolved into a recreational and commercial transport aircraft. This flying boat embodies a lot of firsts for the Grumman manufacturing company. Design and development of the G-21 It all started in 1936 when a group of wealthy Long Islanders was looking [...]
