Civilian Archives - Page 154 of 175

Sun ‘N Fun to Get FedEx 727

A 100,000-pound training tool for future pilots and airplane mechanics will arrive at Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Fla., on Friday. A Boeing 727-200 donated by FedEx Express will give students at Polk State College and Central Florida Aerospace Academy hands-on practice they haven’t had in the past. The gift to Sun ‘n Fun will arrive […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1891 – Birth of Walter Herschel Beech, American pioneer aviator, co-founder with his wife of Beech Aircraft Co. 1911 – Longest over-water flight to date was made by Canadian J. A. D. McCurdy on a Curtiss pusher biplane. He attempted to fly from Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, but crashed after covering 96 miles. The U.S.S. […]

U.K. Aviation Museum Gets Bristol Mayor’s Backing

Bristol, England, Mayor George Ferguson has backed a plan to create a new aviation museum at the former Filton airfield. The site closed at the end of 2012 after its owner, BAE Systems, sold the bulk of the land to developers. The Bristol Aero Collection Trust (BACT) plans to create an aviation heritage museum and learning centre […]

Dream of Making WW II Plane Fly in Oklahoma Continues

When the Douglas A-26 Invader light bomber now sitting in a hangar at a Guthrie, Okla., airport finally takes to the sky it won’t exactly be a miracle, but it will be a testament to the value of people working together for a common goal. The World War II-era A-26 was acquired by the Sierra […]

Memphis Belle Gets a Facelift

A new look has been bestowed upon the Memphis Belle (The Movie), the B-17 Flying Fortress used as the platform for the 1990 movie Memphis Belle, a fictionalized depiction of the airplane’s final mission. The B-17 is still in service and is operated by the Liberty Foundation, which uses the airplane to educate the public about the […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1895 – Birth of Paul Frank Baer, American World War I flying ace who scored the first aerial victory ever for U.S. military aviation. 1918 – First unqualified air combat victory at night against another aeroplane takes place, when two Sopwith Camels of the Royal Air Force No. 44 Squadron (formed the previous year) shoot down a […]

N.Y. Woman to be Inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame

After a lifetime as an aviation reporter and editor, Mary Frances Silitch is used to boarding planes in pursuit of news. In March, she will fly to Nashville, Tenn., but this time she will be the one making news. Silitch, 77, will be traveling to the 24th annual conference of Women In Aviation, International and will be […]

Pilot Shares Plane with Rescue Dogs

A dog is a man’s best friend, as the saying goes. A local pilot is doing his best to return the favor. When he’s not working on his patients’ teeth at High Peaks Dental in Lake Placid, N.Y., 48-year-old D.J. O’Neill takes to the skies in his single-propeller airplane – a red and white Cessna […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1899 – Birth of David Sinton Ingalls, DSC and DFC, only U.S. Navy flying ace of World War I, and first ace in U. S. Navy history. 1928 – New Zealand Royal Flying Corps Lt. John Moncrieff and Capt. George Hood vanished while attempting the first trans-Tasman flight from Australia to New Zealand. Radio signals were received […]

Air France Unveils New Regional Airline

Air France has announced a revamp of its regional services, operating under the branding Hop. Officially branded HOP! the new carrier will integrate the Air France group’s three existing regional airlines under the one brand, namely Brit Air, Regional and Airlinair. From March 31 Hop will operate 530 daily flights to 136 destinations in France and […]