SHORT AVIATION STORIES
Oskar Bider
Oskar Bider was born in 1891 in Langenbruck, Basel-Land. Although he initially planned to become a farmer and even travelled to Argentina to work as a gaucho, he soon realised that his true passion was […]
Pioneers
SHORT AVIATION STORIES
Jean-Pierre Blanchard
Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a French inventor, aviation pioneer and the world’s first professional balloon pilot, was born on 4 July 1753, in Les Andelys, France. From an early age, Blanchard displayed remarkable mechanical talent and a […]
SHORT AVIATION STORIES
Jacob Ellehammer
Jacob Christian Hansen-Ellehammer was born in 1871, in Bakkebølle, Denmark. He trained as a watchmaker, then served with the Royal Danish Navy before moving to Copenhagen, where he worked as a mechanic. In 1898, he […]
AVIATION HISTORY
16 May 1919 – the first successful transatlantic flight begins
On 16th May 1919, three Curtiss NC-4 flying boats of the US Navy left Newfoundland and headed the Azores, in attempt for the first transatlantic flight of the powered, heavier-than-air aircraft. In April of 1913, […]
DREAMERS AND DOERS
Stanisław Skarżyński
Stanisław Skarżyński was one of the most remarkable aviation pioneers of the interwar period, best known for his record-breaking solo flight across the Atlantic in 1933. Although he had already gained recognition through long-distance flights […]
AVIATION HISTORY
2 May 1891 – Pierre van Ryneveld is born
On 2nd May 1891, the founding commander of the South African Air Force, General Sir Helperus Andreas van Ryneveld – commonly known as Pierre van Ryneveld – was born in Senekal, in the then Orange […]
SHORT AVIATION STORIES
Transatlantic flights
The idea of crossing the Atlantic by air dates back to the era of ballooning. In the late 1850s, John Wise attempted to build a balloon capable of such a journey, but his project ended […]
AVIATION HISTORY
28 March 1910 – maiden flight of Fabre Hydravion
On 28th March 1910, an experimental floatplane developed by Henri Fabre, performed its first flight marking the aviation history with the first successful take-off of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft from water. The first floatplane in […]
SHORT AVIATION STORIES
Traian Vuia
Traian Vuia was a Romanian inventor and aviation pioneer. In 1903, he developed the “aeroplane-car”, a flying machine concept that he presented to the French Academy of Sciences. Vuia was born on 17 August 1872 […]
AVIATION HISTORY
7 February 1906 – Oleg Antonov is born
On 7th February 1906, Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov (Олег Константинович Антонов), the world-known aviation engineer, aviation designer and the founder of the Antonov construction bureau (OKB-153), was born in Troitsa village, in the Moscow region of […]