![The Flight Blog - Read Articles]()
![The Flight Blog - Read Articles]()
Browse Articles By Category
Read Our Articles Below
Santos-Dumont vs The Wright Brothers: Who Really Invented the Airplane?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 16th 2020
The 2016 Rio Olympics sparked some historic controversy: During the Opening Ceremony, Brazil paid ho…
Aviation History
Aviation Mysteries: Flying Tiger Line Flight 739
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 25th 2020
The Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation propliner is a rather large plane with a wingspan of over 12…
Aviation History
You won't see these 5 things in an airport today
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 19th 2018
The airports of today are so much different than they used to be. Things are stricter and much more …
Aviation History
How did pilots navigate before GPS systems?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 12th 2018
Before the GPS provided exact coordinates and became fully operational on flights in 1994, pilots ha…
Aviation History
What is a black box?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 5th 2018
When aircraft crash or disappear, investigators highly prioritize retrieving the aircraft's black bo…
Aviation History
The Distinguished Flying Cross Society
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 29th 2018
When remembering all who served on Memorial Day, the Distinguished Flying Cross Society is an organi…
Aviation History
Aviation Mysteries: EgyptAir Flight 990
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 30th 2018
Aviation mysteries haunt us and hold our attention and have done so relentlessly over time. The case…
Aviation History
Five Amazing Moments in Aviation History
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 4th 2018
Narrowing it down to just five moments is hard to do, but there are still some clear front runners h…
Aviation History
Kiddo takes off: Was the first-ever in-flight radio transmission about a cat?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 2nd 2018
How the first cat got to cross the Atlantic
Cats are no strangers to notoriety. Ancient Egyptia…
Aviation History
Leslie Jones: the Camera-man
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 28th 2018
Take yourself back to the early days of aviation. Just how far back you go is really up to you. Mank…
Aviation History
Why are airplane windows round?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 26th 2018
If you've ever had the window seat on a flight, you may have looked out of it and admired the aerial…
Aviation History
A Look at WASPs: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 13th 2018
The U.S. was experiencing a shortage of pilots during World War II. In efforts to find a way to fill…
Aviation History
American Football and Airplanes Took off at the Same Time (and are still connected)
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Feb 19th 2018
Both football and airplanes are deeply ingrained in the American psyche. But I don't have to tell yo…
Aviation History
Here's Why Pilots Say "Roger That"
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Feb 12th 2018
Communication is key, especially in aviation. It can be used to warn someone of danger and achieve g…
Aviation History
Eddie Rickenbacker: Ace of Aces, Race Car Driver, Air Transportation Pioneer
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 19th 2018
Not every fighter pilot was considered an
ace during World War I, let alone the ace of aces. But …
Pilot Profile
The Guinea Pig Club: RAF Pilots and the Advancement of Plastic Surgery
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 8th 2018
We are incredibly lucky to presently live in a world with advanced medical technology. It wasn't all…
Aviation History
2017 Blog Roundup: Looking Back at our Favorites
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 1st 2018
Nearing the end of the year always brings a certain type of nostalgia. As we look towards the future…
Aviation History
Britain's First Female Pilot: Hilda Hewlett
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Dec 22nd 2017
Hilda Hewlett has the title of Britain's first female pilot, the first woman in Britain to earn her …
Aviation History
How Charles Lindbergh Became TIME's First Man of the Year
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Dec 20th 2017
For nearly a century, Time magazine has annually selected people-man, woman, group or concept-that h…
Aviation History
Pilot Profile: Katherine Stinson
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Dec 8th 2017
A Pioneering American AviatorAs one of America's Early aviators, Katherine Stinson set numerous flyi…
Aviation History
Pilot Profile: Jeana Yeager
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 22nd 2017
We've mentioned Jeana Yeager before in our
Rutan Voyager Plane of the Week feature, but we're thr…
Aviation History
Pilot Encounters with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 20th 2017
Picture this: you're a pilot, cruising through the air when suddenly an unknown object appears in yo…
Aviation History
The First Airliner to Disappear: The Avro Ten "Southern Cloud"
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 13th 2017
The story, and occasional mystery, surrounding airline disappearances capture international attentio…
Aviation History
The Story of the B-17 -Swamp Ghost-
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 30th 2017
Papua New Guinea has seen its share of plane crashes, as well as its share of war buffs hunting for …
General Aviation
The Mystery of the Goodyear Ghost Blimp
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 18th 2017
Between 1942 and 1945, the U.S. Navy received more than 150 airships for the war effort. The militar…
Aviation History
Pilot Profile: Louis Blériot
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 11th 2017
Louis Blériot is famous for being the first to fly between continental Europe and Great Br…
Aviation History
Pilot Encounters with UFOs
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Sep 18th 2017
Do You Want to Believe?Planes aren't always the only things flying in the sky. We've got helicopters…
Aviation History
Blanche Stuart Scott: One of America's Earliest Aviatrixes
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Sep 6th 2017
In 1910, a woman set out in an automobile across the country to prove that women were well-equipped …
Aviation History
Model Planes: The Gateway to Aviation for All Ages
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 23rd 2017
Model airplanes allow children and adults to get up-close and personal with aviation without becomin…
Aviation History
Pilot Profile: James Stewart
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 21st 2017
When we hear James Stewart's name, we often think of his acting career; we particularly think of his…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: Vega 5B
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 18th 2017
Designed by Lockheed Aircraft, this Vega monoplane holds a special place in the hearts of many. The …
Plane Of The Week
The Making of Modern Day Air Shows
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 9th 2017
Air shows have a rich history. Since man first learned to fly, airplanes--and aerial stunts--have wo…
Aviation History
G-Forces: A Matter of Acceleration
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 26th 2017
If you've ever ridden a roller coaster, you may have felt a sense of weightlessness followed by abru…
Aviation History
The Montgolfier Brothers and the Rise of Balloonomania
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 24th 2017
On September 19, 1783, a duck, a sheep, and a rooster all made history as the first passengers to ev…
Aviation History
Marilyn Monroe Was Discovered Working at a Radioplane Factory
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 19th 2017
When we think of Marilyn Monroe, we think of a seductive superstar of the 1950-60s. We think of Joe …
Aviation History
From Letters to Luxury: The Revolution of Flying First Class
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 10th 2017
With how popular commercial flying is today, it's hard to believe the multi-billion-dollar industry …
Aviation History
Lilian Bland: Ireland's First Female Pilot Could Do It All
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 3rd 2017
In reality, though, Lilian Bland was truly anything BUT bland.
It's true that Lilian Bland was the…
Aviation History
Aviation Mysteries: Amelia Earhart Disappearance
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 26th 2017
Perhaps one of the most well-known aviation tragedies, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart remains a…
Aviation History
International Paris Air Show
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 21st 2017
The International Paris Air Show began on June 19 and will continue until June 26. The International…
Aviation History
A Brief History of Military Observation Balloons
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 19th 2017
Aerial warfare has evolved a great deal over the years. In its earliest days, it was utilized as a m…
Aviation History
What Does a Serial Killer and the First Airplane Have in Common?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 14th 2017
Did a killer unintentionally change the course of aviation history as we know it? In 2015, fame…
Aviation History
Pigeons of War: How Ordinary Birds Took to the Skies for An Extraordinary Purpose
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 7th 2017
When you think of warbirds, you're probably not thinking of war birds (or the "The Gang Wrestle…
Aviation History
Aerial Warfare in World War I
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 29th 2017
This Memorial Day, we're remembering all those who have bravely fought for our freedom. The sacrific…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: Farman F.60 Goliath
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 26th 2017
Today, we're wishing Henri Farman-French aviation pioneer of the double-decker airplane-a very happy…
Plane Of The Week
Helicopters: A Real Lifesaver
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 24th 2017
"If you are in trouble anywhere in the world, an airplane can fly over and drop flowers, but a helic…
Aviation History
Everyone Wanted to Be Charles Lindbergh (Including Mickey Mouse)
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 15th 2017
How one man's journey changed the world.
Charles Lindbergh made his historic transatlantic flight …
Aviation History
Amy Johnson: First Female Pilot to Fly Solo to Australia
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 10th 2017
Amy Johnson was the first female pilot to fly solo from England to Australia, making her famous amon…
Aviation History
5 Emergency Landings that Made History
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 8th 2017
When going up in the air, we all hope that, in the end, we reach our destinations safely. We cross o…
Aviation History
The Early History of Commercial Air Travel
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 3rd 2017
In 2016, 3.8 billion people traveled by air, and IATA expects that number to double over the co…
Aviation History
Lucy, Lady Houston: Philanthropist, Activist, and Aviation Pioneer
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 26th 2017
If not for Poppy Houston, the Battle of Britain might have ended very differently. Fanny Lucy R…
Aviation History
Conquering the Impossible: the First Flight Over Everest
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 5th 2017
Mount Everest
With an elevation of 29,029 ft, Mt. Everest is the highest mountain on planet Earth …
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: Junkers F.13
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 24th 2017
In a world of fabric-and-wood, be metal.The Junkers F.13 was one of the most advanced aircraft …
Plane Of The Week
How John Denver's Death Influenced Experimental Aircraft Regulation
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 20th 2017
Singer, songwriter, actor and activist John Denver was also a pilot during his time.
If…
Aviation History
Ready Your Facial Hair--It's Mustache March
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 16th 2017
Move over, No-Shave November. If you have an Air Force man in your life, maybe you've been wond…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: Piaggio P.1HH Hammerhead
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 10th 2017
Nicknamed the HammerHead, the P.1HH looks like a mythical beast flying through the sky; and, natural…
Aviation History
Hanna Reitsch: Germany's Most Famous Aviatrix was a Star of the Nazi Party
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 8th 2017
March 8 is International Women's Day-a day marked by celebrating all the social, economic, cultural …
Uncategorized
The Gremlins of Aviation- Yes, You Read That Right
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 6th 2017
I think it's safe to say that most everyone above the age of 20 conjures the same image when they he…
Aviation History
These Iconic Airlines Have Vanished From the Skies
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Feb 15th 2017
Some of the most popular, iconic airlines of the United States have disappeared from the skies--and …
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: NASA AD-1
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Feb 10th 2017
Even centuries-old aircraft will look somewhat familiar to modern aviation enthusiasts.
…
Aviation History
Flight Attendants Over the Years
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Feb 8th 2017
Confession: when I was young, I wanted to be a flight attendant. I don't know what sparked the caree…
Aviation History
Charles Lindbergh: Pilot, Inventor, and Author
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Feb 7th 2017
American aviator Charles Lindbergh made the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in M…
Aviation History
Was Helios Airways Flight 522 Haunted?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 18th 2017
Buckle up readers. This one is creepy and quite sad.
Imagine sitting comfortably in your seat duri…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: The Vin Fiz Flyer
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 13th 2017
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. considers it one of the most significant aviati…
Aviation History
The Resurrection of the Aviation Cocktail
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 11th 2017
Ahhh-a long flight to an exotic location and a mixed drink. This combination is bliss to some (guilt…
Aviation History
Roscoe Turner & Gilmore the Flyin' Lion
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 9th 2017
You might be familiar with Simba, Mufasa, the Cowardly Lion, and maybe even Aslan, but have you ever…
Aviation History
Aviation Mysteries: The Disappearance of Pan Am Flight 7
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jan 2nd 2017
On November 8, 1957, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser left San Francisco International Airport at 11:51 am…
Aviation History
Aviation History: The Battle of Britain
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Dec 28th 2016
In the middle part of the year 1940, the largest sustained bombing campaign to that date took place …
Aviation History
The History Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Part 3: The Cold War
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Dec 12th 2016
For the rest of The History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles series, you can read Part 1: WWI here a…
Aviation History
Ruth Law Oliver: An American Aviatrix
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 30th 2016
Ruth Law Oliver, who was featured in our Women in Aviation History post earlier this month, passed a…
Aviation History
Aviation Mysteries: D.B. Cooper
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 28th 2016
45 years ago, on November 24, 1971, an unidentified man hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft somewhere in …
Aviation History
The History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Part 2: Interwar Years & WWII
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 23rd 2016
To read The History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Part 1: WWI, click here.
Post-WWI: Target …
Aviation History
Aviation History: Night Witches
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 21st 2016
In continued celebration of National Aviation History Month, we're focusing now on one incredible po…
Aviation History
The History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Part 1: WWI
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 14th 2016
When we think of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it's easy to limit our thought to present-day UAVs…
Aviation History
Celebrating Women in Aviation History
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 9th 2016
Earlier this year, we wrote about the
history of aviation. Today, we're going to take that in a s…
Aviation History
Air-to-Air | the efficient yet dangerous refueling process of American jets
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Nov 7th 2016
It's a dangerous process-but a necessary one. The refueling of jet planes around the globe are const…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: SAAB JAS-39 Gripen
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 27th 2016
The aging SAAB JAS-39 Gripen is a veteran member of several of the world's most powerful air fleets-…
Aviation History
A Brief History of Early Aerial Warfare
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 24th 2016
It might seem reasonable to assume that aerial warfare didn't begin until the 20th century-after all…
Aviation History
Smoky the War Dog--Hero of the Air Force and National Sensation
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Oct 10th 2016
Smoky: the Little Dog that CouldCorporal Bill Wynne first met Smoky in the beginning of 1944 when he…
Aviation History
Whatever Happened to Skywriting?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 30th 2016
Sky's the limit for a comeback
You might have noticed that thick, white letters don't really domin…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: The Hughes H-4 Hercules | "The Spruce Goose"
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 26th 2016
The Spruce Goose: an incredible feat of modern engineering and one of the most famous aircraft in th…
Aviation History
The Dole Derby: The Tragic Race for Transpacific Infamy
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 17th 2016
August 17, 1927 marks the end of the Dole Derby--an ill-fated air race
Charles Lindbergh's Orte…
Aviation History
Antis the German Shepherd: Airman's Best Friend
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 9th 2016
Let slip the dogs of warJanuary 1940: Phoney War. Václav Robert Bozděch and Pierre Duval were on a r…
Aviation History
5 of the Most Prolific Early Flying Machine Inventors
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Aug 1st 2016
Humans have always been rather obsessed with the notion of flight, well before the development …
Aviation History
Whatever Happened to the Supersonic Concorde?
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 29th 2016
Supersonic commercial transport existed for 30 years--what happened?
The 1950s was a time of commu…
Aviation History
The Berlin Airlift: Spirit of Freedom
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 21st 2016
The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation Keeps the Spirit Alive
In 1988, one pilot founded The Be…
berlin airlift
The story of a 22-year-old WWII bomber pilot, his journal, 50 missions, and his proud son.
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 18th 2016
We met Tom Szulborski by chance on an overcast Thursday at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum near Reading,…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: Enola Gay (The Hiroshima Bomber)
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 15th 2016
But when I looked at it-when I saw what had taken place, and I saw the city covered, and what appear…
Aviation History
Celebrate National Siblings Day with These Famous Sibling Aviators
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jul 5th 2016
When it comes to having siblings, it tends to be a love/hate situation--sometimes a little more of o…
Aviation History
Antoine de Saint-Exupry: Famed Writer and Aviator
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 30th 2016
The man who wore many hats(although it's possible it was just a snake that swallowed an elephant)Whi…
Aviation History
Tailwind: A Woodchuck Aboard The American Nurse
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Jun 23rd 2016
Of all the animals who have found themselves written into the annals of aviation history, perhaps on…
Aviation History
The Man Behind the Zeppelin Airship
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 26th 2016
Ferdinand Adolph Heinrich August Graf von ZeppelinWith a name like that, you just know he was meant …
Aviation History
The Age of Aerospace: 100 years of Aviation History
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 11th 2016
Remembering the Roots of Modern Aviation
In case you haven't already heard, Boeing is …
Aviation History
The History of Aviator Sunglasses (and their enduring popularity)
Aviation Oil Outlet
on May 4th 2016
Tom Cruise may be pushing the boundaries of insanity by many of our standards, but-dear lord-was the…
Aviation History
Plane of the Week: Howard Hughes' XF-11
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 22nd 2016
Let it be said: every pilot knows all too well the name of Howard Hughes.
In a time when the long-…
Aviation History
A commercial success: United Airlines celebrates its 90th birthday
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Apr 6th 2016
90 years for United Airlines hardly seems like a long time.
For thousands of years, humans have al…
Aviation History
Rebuilding the Very First Air Force One
Aviation Oil Outlet
on Mar 25th 2016
Aviation history is being remade in Bridgewater, Virginia.While images of Air Force One landing in C…
Aviation History
