Church was a licensed pilot, so she originally applied to Boeing Air Transport hoping to become a pilot, but women were not hired as airline pilots at the time. Instead, she proposed that airlines place trained nurses aboard flights to reassure nervous passengers during the early years of commercial aviation, when flying was still considered […]
First Pilot to Fly a Million Miles in a Jet Airplane
In 1959, Garlow was flying a jet-prop Vickers Viscount, which Capital Airlines first put into service on July 26, 1955. Garlow’s record was described as “a million miles of jet flying,” even though the aircraft had propellers, because in the late 1950s, turboprops like the Viscount were widely marketed as “jet-prop” or turbine aircraft since […]
Rudolph W. “Shorty” Schroeder Reached World-Record Height of 33,114 Feet
On February 27, 1920,U.S. Major Rudolph W. “Shorty” Schroeder reached a world-record height of 33,114 feet in a LePere airplane fitted with a General Electric turbo-supercharger. When he removed his goggles to change oxygen flasks in order to continue breathing in the rarified atmosphere, the minus 63 degree air temperature immediately froze his eyeballs. Schroeder […]
Washington National Airport Renamed
First Anniversary of the Gulfstream G280’S Entry into Service
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp first announced the G280 on Oct. 5, 2008, and its first flight took place on Dec. 11, 2009. The flight lasted 3 hours and 21 minutes and the aircraft flew to 32,000 feet or 9,754 meters. The G280 earned its type certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Aug. 30, […]
The First Omnirange Airways
Before Global Positioning System (GPS), airplanes in the United States relied on VORs to fly and in poor weather pilots would navigate from one VOR to another. Each VOR is a small radio station that broadcasts on an assigned frequency. For instance, the Canarsie VOR near the JFK airport covers New York; the Robert’s VOR […]
Pilatus’ Announcement of the PC-24
The PC-24’s interior was enhanced with the goal of improving the overall passenger flight experience. The aircraft’s new integrated Cabin Management System (iCMS) featured a 10″ touch screen controller with 3D moving map, mood lighting, USB ports, four cabin speakers with a sub-woofer option, a media storage server, and a large side-facing divan that […]
Bombardier Announced that Its Challenger 350 Had Reached 300 Deliveries
The super mid-size aircraft, which was awarded steep approach certifications by international regulatory bodies including EASA, FAA and TC, accommodated up to 10 passengers, featured a fully-equipped galley, and unrestricted access to the baggage compartment at all flight levels. Under certain operating conditions, the Challenger 350 had the capability to connect from New York City to […]
The Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939 Signed into Law
The Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) was established as a civilian program, but its potential for national defense was undisguised. The government would pay for a 72-hour ground school course followed by 35 to 50 hours of flight instruction at facilities located near eleven colleges and universities. The CPTP proved successful, not only strengthening national […]
Gulfstream Announced that Its G500 and G600 Each Exceeded 100,000 Flight Hours
The Gulfstream G500 and G600, which entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and are powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada engines, have each surpassed 100,000 flight hours. Both aircraft have seen strong demand and continuous global utilization in the private aviation industry due to their reliability and popularity. Both aircraft are U.S. Federal Aviation […]