News

Some of the witnesses to the Wright brothers’ first successful powered flight didn’t understand why the brothers were so excited by the event, noting they had traveled much farther than 120 feet in gliders. It took a bit of time to explain that the Dec. 17, 1903, flight was the first time an aircraft had […]

The future of Fayetteville Municipal Airport-Drake Field (KFYA) in Fayetteville, Ark., may include golf. According to Ray Boudreaux, director of aviation and economic development for the city of Fayetteville, the idea of creating a golf course on part of the airport property came out of a study done to update the airport’s 20-year Master Plan. […]

The Wright brothers acknowledged the contributions of Otto Lilienthal (right) and his glider experiments in helping them achieve the first powered flight. Rarely do history books recognize that much of Lilienthal’s work was done with the aid of his brother, Gustav. In the 1860s the Lilienthal brothers endured jibes from their contemporaries as they experimented […]

In 1907, Ben Epps designed, built and flew the first airplane ever seen in Georgia. This year, Georgia is celebrating the 100th anniversary of that pioneering flight and honoring the Epps family, which remains a major influence on aviation in the state. Of Ben Epps’s nine children, only one did not learn to fly. Pat […]

“An average of two accidents a week is not a record to be proud of, nor one easily explainable to an insurance company or the FAA.” — the 2006 Nall Report on the number of accidents caused by fuel mismanagement. “This law is unnecessary, discriminatory, anti-business and ineffective — and it violates the U.S. Constitution.” […]

The Commemorative Air Force’s “Diamond Lil” may be no more. The B-24, the oldest in existence, is in the midst of a restoration that will return it to its original B-24A status. Based at the B-29/B-24 Squadron at the CAF’s Midland, Texas, headquarters, “Diamond Lil,” was put in the paint scheme and markings of the […]

This month the Wiley Post Commission will present Jon Johanson with the Wiley Post Spirit Award. Johanson, a nurse and midwife from Australia, is the first international award recipient. His accomplishments include being the first person to fly solo over the South Pole in a single-engine aircraft and the first person to circumnavigate the world […]

“Although the future of general aviation looks bright, we have not allowed this optimism to make us complacent.” — Pete Bunce, president, GAMA. “There must continue to be robust funding for general aviation, something Congress has repeatedly recognized even when an administration has attempted to slash GA funding.” — Phil Boyer, president, AOPA. “Without question, […]

On July 26, 2003, the town of Barry’s Bay, Ontario, (pop. 1,100) honored its most famous resident, Janusz “Zura” Zurakowski, the first test pilot to fly the Arrow, by dedicating a park and future museum to him. The arrow-shaped park, located across from the town’s railroad station, contains a large-scale replica of the Avro Arrow […]