Today, we’re wishing Henri Farman—French aviation pioneer of the double-decker airplane—a very happy birthday! Born in 1874, Farman originally trained to be a painter but soon became interested in mechanics and sports. He bought his first plane in the early 1900s, set many flying records, and founded his own flying school in 1909. He soon [...]
When going up in the air, we all hope that, in the end, we reach our destinations safely. We cross our fingers for "textbook" takeoffs and landings. Most of the time, we get our wish--flying is easy peasy. But sometimes our finger crossing isn't enough and things don't go by the book. In the event that [...]
In 2016, 3.8 billion people traveled by air, and IATA expects that number to double over the course of 20 years. This isn't unreasonable, considering that the 4 billion passengers expected to fly commercially this year is double what it was just 12 years ago. Suffice it to say, commercial air travel is common these days. [...]
If not for Poppy Houston, the Battle of Britain might have ended very differently. Fanny Lucy Radmall was born on April 8, 1857, to Thomas Radmall, a woolen warehouseman and draper, and Maria Isabella Clark. The 9th of 10 children, "Poppy," as she was affectionately known, was nothing short of inquisitive, vivacious, and adventurous. At 16, Poppy became [...]
In a world of fabric-and-wood, be metal. Hugo Junkers (1859-1935)©MP/Leemage The Junkers F.13 was one of the most advanced aircraft of its time. Developed in Germany at the end of WWI, this advanced cantilever-wing monoplane was the first ever all-metal transport aircraft. It was also Junker's first commercial aircraft--not too shabby considering they would go [...]
March 8 is International Women’s Day—a day marked by celebrating all the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. As a woman, I would like to emphasize the importance of recognizing women for their achievements and contributions to history and the general betterment of society. Women have pretty much always been involved in aviation, [...]
Ahhh… a long flight to an exotic location and a mixed drink. This combination is bliss to some (guilty as charged). I recently discovered a drink that plays to my love of flying: The Aviation Cocktail. Now, read up and fill up. The Aviation Cocktail This mixed drink was invented in the early 1900s. It [...]
On November 8, 1957, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser left San Francisco International Airport at 11:51 am (PST) for Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. It was a Friday and, for many people, it was probably a rather ordinary day. Pan Am Flight 7, registration N90944, Clipper Romance of The Skies was an around-the-world flight; its first leg [...]
For the rest of The History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles series, you can read Part 1: WWI here and Part 2: Interwar Years & WWII here. Post-WWII: Evolution of Target Drones and Reconnaissance The Cold War Immediately after World War II ended, the Cold War began. The Soviet Union and the United States were two global superpowers: [...]
When we think of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it’s easy to limit our thought to present-day UAVs—after all, drones have been receiving a lot of media attention lately. While modern drones and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) have become critical to the US Military due to their advancements, the development of such vehicles is, like so [...]
