This Day in History: Tragedy hits the Cal Poly football team
On this day in 1960, a plane carrying the Cal Poly football team crashes in Ohio. The tragedy was the first airline crash involving a...
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tara
Oct 113 min read
This Day in History: Teddy Roosevelt, first President to fly
On this day in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first United States President to fly in an airplane. Presidents board airplanes on a...
tara
Oct 103 min read
This Day in History: The Airship USS Shenandoah
On this day in 1923, USS Shenandoah is christened. The rigid airship was intended for airborne surveillance, similar to what Germany...
tara
Oct 53 min read
This Day in History: The Wright Brothers' “practical” aircraft
On this day in 1905, Wilbur Wright makes a record-setting airplane flight. His Flyer III would stay in the air for more than 38 minutes....
tara
Sep 183 min read
This Day in History: Air Force birthday
On this day in 1947, the United States Air Force is established. Did you know that the aviation arm of our military was part of the Army...
tara
May 173 min read
This Day in History: WW II’s most famous bomber, Memphis Belle
On this day in 1943, a B-17 Flying Fortress completes its 25th combat mission without losing a member of its crew. Memphis Belle would...
tara
May 153 min read
This Day in History: First U.S. Airmail
On this day in 1918, the first official U.S. airmail flight departs from Washington, D.C. Such a flight is ordinary today, but in the...
tara
Mar 203 min read
This Day in History: Charles Lindbergh & his historic flight
On this day in 1928, Colonel Charles Lindbergh is awarded the Medal of Honor. In an odd twist, he’d already received a Distinguished...
tara
Feb 83 min read
This Day in History: Thomas Selfridge, aviation pioneer
On this day in 1882, a future aviation pioneer is born. Thomas E. Selfridge’s name isn’t well known, but he was among those working to...
tara
Feb 73 min read
This Day in History: Apollo 14 returns from the moon
On this day in 1971, the crew of Apollo 14 returns to Earth. The astronauts had just become the third NASA crew to walk on the moon....
tara
Jan 163 min read
This Day in History: The Space Shuttle Columbia explodes
On this day in 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia departs on her final mission. She’d once been the first space shuttle to launch into...
tara
Dec 21, 20233 min read
This Day in History: The first untethered spacewalk
On this day in 2017, a pioneer passes away. Bruce McCandless II is best known as the NASA astronaut who made the first untethered...
tara
Nov 22, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Aviation pioneer Jerrie Mock
On this day in 1925, a future aviation pioneer is born. Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock is best known for her 1964 solo trip around the world—the...
tara
Oct 9, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Chuck Yeager's supersonic flight
On this day in 1947, a United States Air Force pilot nearly loses control of his plane while conducting a test flight. Always coolheaded,...
tara
Aug 21, 20234 min read
This Day in History: The X-15 Hypersonic Plane
On this day in 1963, a NASA test pilot soars into space. Joseph A. Walker was then flying an experimental spaceplane, the X-15. The trip...
tara
Jul 19, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Neil Armstrong steps onto the moon
On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon. Americans had won a “space race” to get there. We’d...
tara
Mar 1, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Lucky Lady II's triumphant flight
On this day in 1949, a B-50 bomber wraps up a historic non-stop trip around the globe. The Cold War was just beginning, and the flight...
tara
Feb 24, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Kee Bird Survivors
On this day in 1947, a United States Army Air Forces crew is rescued from the arctic ice. Their Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Kee Bird, had...
tara
Feb 7, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Alone in Space
On this day in 1932, a pioneer is born. Alfred “Al” Worden is perhaps best known for his service as the command module pilot for Apollo...
tara
Jan 18, 20233 min read
This Day in History: First airplane landing on a warship
On this day in 1911, an airplane lands aboard an American warship for the first time. Eugene B. Ely was the pilot who accomplished this...
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