Topic: People » Aviators » Aviation Pioneers

Aviation Pioneers

Individuals on the frontier of flight, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh
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During a July 2012 jaunt, pilot Bob Newhouse raises his hands to prove that Fichera, in the front cockpit, is flying the 1930s-era aircraft.

Lindbergh’s Trainer: The Brunner-Winkle Bird

The plane that taught Anne Morrow Lindbergh to fly is flying again.
April 2013 | By Paul Glenshaw

Even Lindbergh Got Lost

In the 1920’s, only one man held the key to aerial navigation.
February 2013 | By Roger Connor

Tata (circa 1960) wrote copious memos to his staff about everything from inflight coffee (“it tasted like bean soup”) to crew hairstyles (one stewardess “had an enormous hair bun at the back, larger than her whole head. She looked ridiculous”).

Karachi to Bombay to Calcutta

The struggle to start Air-India.
November 2011 | By David Shaftel

The First Across the Continent

A 100th anniversary remembrance of Cal Rodgers and the Vin Fiz.
September 2011 | By Charles Wiggin, As Told To Howard Eisenberg

Viewport: Across the Country in 49 Days

September 2011 | By J.R. Dailey

Patty Wagstaff’s latest mission: use the discipline of aerobatics to combat the chaos of California wildfires (photo-composite).

Patty Wagstaff’s Second Act

An airshow superstar adds firefighting to her repertoire.
August 2011 | By Debbie Gary

Ryan employees send the Spirit off to St Louis Lindbergh in jodhpurs is third from right Donald Hall second

A Mailplane for Lindbergh

Donald Hall's 1927 rush job.
July 2011 | By Tom Leech

Air Force Thunderbird pilot Nicole Malachowski, the first woman to fly with a U.S. military high-performance demonstration team.

What Were They Doing at 25?

Some were already heroes. Others were nowhere near where you would have expected them to be.
May 2011 | By Michael Klesius

During World War II, Navy Commander Paul Garber developed a target kite (bearing the silhouette of a Japanese aircraft) for U.S. Navy ship-to-air gunnery practice.

In the Museum

Paul Garber: Eyewitness to History
May 2011 | By Rebecca Maksel

Jack Finney

Stealing the Wright Flyer

Back in 1951, sci-fi author Jack Finney had a few questions for the Smithsonian, like: How exactly would someone break in?
March 24, 2011 | By Rebecca Maksel

Mary Groce

The Unrecognized First

Emory Malick, the first African-American pilot, wasn't known to historians until recently.
March 2011 | By Rebecca Maksel

In the Museum’s newly renovated Pioneers of Flight Gallery.

In the Museum: Flying Outside the Boundaries

January 2011 | By Mary McKillop

Glamour Boy

The day Claude Grahame-White thrilled the crowd at the Boston-Harvard meet.
September 08, 2010 | By Gavin Mortimer

John, Joe, George, and Matt Savidge (from left) with one of their biplanes, ca. 1912.

In the Museum: Life Among the Savidges

August 2010 | By Tom Crouch

Jonathan Trappe over North Carolina, dangling from what looks like a bunch of birthday balloons on a cluster flight, one of four he made before crossing the English Channel in May.

The Drifters

Of wind, helium, and hope — plus the occasional disaster.
August 2010 | By Mark Karpel

Viewport: Building a Wall of Support

July 2010 | By J.R. Dailey

From left to right Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright chat with Wright Exhibition Team pilot Walter Brookins at Indianapolis Indiana June 1910

Moments and Milestones: Mile-High Man

July 2010 | By George C. Larson, Member, NAA

Wright brothers

In the Museum: A Wright Relic Surfaces

March 2010 | By Larry E. Tise

Charles Lindbergh (left) and Harlan Gurney

Slim and Bud

Meet Charles Lindbergh the barnstormer—as he interviews his oldest flying buddy.
January 2010 | By Giacinta Bradley Koontz

U.S. Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager circa 1947.

The Book of Hours

A peek into the logbooks of history’s notable pilots.
November 2009 | By Tom LeCompte


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