Centuries
Aviation innovations, milestones and developments from the 18th through the 21st century- Explore more »
X-47 on Deck, Kind Of
This summer the X-47B unmanned combat aircraft made its first arrested landing on the USS Eisenhower. Well, actually it was an F/A-18D Hornet (left) operating as a surrogate, using the software and [...]
September 12, 2011 |
By Roger Mola
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
Stranded
Four aircraft, 12 airmen, 25 days, 40 below zero, in the middle of nowhere.
September 2011 |
By Edward Farmer
Distance Runners
Unmanned aerial vehicles redefine the term "nonstop flight."
September 2011 |
By Michael Milstein
Above and Beyond: Tully’s Astronarium
A high-schooler champions science in America.
September 2011 |
By Robert Yowell
Streaking Along at Mach 20
Initial reports from an August 11 test of DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic research vehicle were mixed. The glider launched successfully and separated from its Minotaur IV rocket over the Pacific, but engineers lost contact with the vehicle nine minutes into the flight, and the test ended prematurely with the vehicle self-destructing according to safety procedures. [...]
August 29, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
The Bombing of Waziristan
In this rugged hiding place, outlaws like Osama bin Laden are rarely run to ground. The British learned that lesson in 1939.
July 2011 |
By Graham Chandler
Air Travel 2050: Panoramic Views With a Wave of the Hand
Airbus calls its Concept Plane for 2050 an aircraft “inspired by nature.” But it sure includes a lot of technology. “The idea is to move out from the old-fashioned class system—first class, business class, economy class—and think more about the experience,” says Airbus chief engineer Charles Champion in an interview with The (London) Telegraph. “So [...]
June 15, 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Mile-High Jetpack
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at this video of the Martin Aircraft Company’s recent mile-high test of its personal jetpack and safety parachute system. The flight topped out at 5,000 feet, but could have gone higher. While a dummy was on board for this test, the New Zealand-based company is marketing [...]
June 13, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
A Brief History of Unmanned Aircraft
From bomb-bearing balloons to the Global Hawk.
May 18, 2011 |
By Ed Darack
Thunderbirds Are Go!
Who can forget billionaire ex-spaceman Jeff Tracy and his five sons (Scott, Virgil, Alan, Gordon, and John), each named after a Mercury astronaut? Remember how they—through their organization (International Rescue)—um...rescued people...internationally? Ok, so they were puppets. Deal with it, peop...
May 05, 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
“That’s Professor Global Hawk”
A remote-piloted warrior starts flying for science.
May 2011 |
By Kara Platoni
Jump. Fly. Land.
Jeb Corliss says if the birds can do it, so can he.
November 2010 |
By Carl Hoffman
The Autobots Are Coming!
The defense research agency DARPA recently selected six companies to participate in a year-long program to transform a Humvee-like vehicle into an aircraft. Lockheed Martin and AAI Corporation are asked to supply something that can “avoid traditional and asymmetrical threats while avoiding road ...
October 25, 2010 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Black Day at White Sands
What goes up, must come down. In the Delta Clipper's case, really hard.
August 2010 |
By Preston Lerner
