TODAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY - March 28, 1910: First seaplane makes historic flight

Henri Marie Léonce Fabre flew his Hydroavian, the first seaplane, at Étang de Berre, a lagoon about 15.5 miles west of Marseille, on the Mediterranean coast of France. The airplane, named Le Canard, flew 1,499 feet.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerrityMarch 28, 2022

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - Breaking sound barriers and glass ceilings in the USAF

A fighter and instructor pilot in Enid says casting a vision as one of the first Black female pilots in the military has been a highlight of her career. Lt. Col. Christina Hopper has been blazing a historic trail for women in aviation since she earned her pilot wings over 20 years ago at Vance Air Force Base, where she is now a reserve T-38C instructor pilot with the 5th Flying Training Squadron.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerrityMarch 7, 2022

THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: Four First Flights for February 9

The Boeing Co. conducts the first flights of four airframes - flying the 727 in ‘63, the 747 in ‘69, the E-3 in ‘72 and the 737-NG in ‘97.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerrityFebruary 9, 2022

THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: On Feb 3, 1964, FAA begins sonic boom studies in OKC with USAF's help

A series of sonic boom studies began as the FAA launched a six-month project to test public reaction to the phenomenon in Oklahoma City, using regularly scheduled overflights by Air Force B-58 and F-104 jets.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerrityFebruary 3, 2022

THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: On September 21, 1964, the Air Force XB-70A supersonic aircraft made its first flight.

Subsequent flights of this steel-bodied airplane, which had been conceived as a bomber but recast as a research aircraft, provided the FAA-managed U.S. supersonic transport development program with useful technical data.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerritySeptember 21, 2021

THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: On September 16, 1910, Dr. Bessica Curtis Medlar Raiche made what is considered the first intentional solo flight by a woman in the U.S.

Before Earhart, There Was Aviation Trailblazer Bessica Raiche

Years before Earhart took flight, Raiche took to the skies in a solo flight, making her the first American female aviator. And that's not her only aviation accomplishment. She and her husband built that plane from scratch. And years after the whole flying thing wasn't working for her anymore, Raiche went on to become one of the country's first female doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerritySeptember 16, 2021

THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: On September 14, 1939, Igor Sikorsky made the first tethered flight of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 prototype helicopter in Connecticut.

14 September 1939: At Stratford, Connecticut, Igor Sikorsky made the first tethered flight of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 prototype helicopter. The duration of the flight was just 10 seconds but demonstrated that the helicopter could be controlled.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerritySeptember 14, 2021

THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: In 1908 Orville Wright makes first public flight

September 3, 1908: Orville Wright made his first public flight at Fort Meyer, VA. In the weeks to follow, he would carry passengers in several flights, meeting the criteria established by the US Army for purchase of an airplane.

Airpower HistoryAFA GerritySeptember 3, 2021