The eyes of the world were turned spaceward in October 1957 because the Soviet Union had just launched Sputnik, the first manmade object sent into space. Or was it? Just a few […]
Did a Manhole Cover Become the First Manmade Object in Space?
How to Steal an Airplane Without Breaking the Law
William McBoyle stole an airplane, and it was perfectly legal. Just to be clear, he actually took possession of someone else’s aircraft without their permission and never gave it back. Even so, […]
Berlin’s Modern Airport That Has Never Seen an Airplane
Airports are for airplanes. Airports are for aviation passengers. Airports are complex logistical partnerships of commerce, transportation, and technology that pump life into the economy. With its reputation for top-notch efficiency, Germany […]
The Famous Pilot Who Crashed His First Solo Flight
Manny wanted nothing more than to be a pilot, but it just didn’t seem to be in the cards. How he managed to get his wings and become one of the most […]
Meet Archytas, the Father of Robotics
Archytas (428 BC–347 BC) was a mathematician and scientist of Ancient Greece. He was a member of the Pythagoreans. (Click here to learn how Pythagoras was killed by his phobia of beans.) […]
Parisian Parrots Protect People From Planes
During World War I, citizens of Paris were quick to contribute to the war effort in any way possible. Parisians of all walks of left chipped in, whether poor or rich, young […]
Meet the Animals Who Were the First Hot Air Balloon Passengers
Everyone knows the names of Neil Armstrong, Charles Lindbergh, Ferdinand Magellan, and other brave pioneers who were the first to accomplish feats that were theretofore only dreamed of. Although you may know […]
When Landing an Aircraft at the U.S. Capitol Gets You Charged with Impersonating a Postal Vehicle.
Doug Hughes was upset about a lack of progress in campaign finance reform. He wrote letters to members of Congress, urging them to take immediate action. Apparently believing too much time had […]
Flying With Da Vinci
“For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will long to return.” — Leonardo Da Vinci […]
Meet the Man Who Ate an Entire Airplane
Say what you will about Michel Lotito, but one thing is for certain: he never suffered from iron deficiency in his diet. For that matter, he didn’t want for glass, plastic, aluminum, […]
Plug Your Ears for a Flight in the World’s Loudest Airplane
Few aircraft created such an indelible impression on its operators as the XF-84H “Thunderscreech.” Created by Republic Aviation for the U.S. Air Force, this experimental fighter never saw combat, but it left […]
Twilight Zone fatal accident
Read about the tragic deaths during the filming of The Twilight Zone: the Movie, courtesy of History of Sorts. On July 23, 1982, Vic Morrow and two child actors, Renee Shinn Chen and […]
From Plane Wreck to “Star Trek” — the Heroic Exploits of Gene Roddenberry
Fans of Star Trek are all too familiar with the scene: the ship is badly damaged, the helm is unresponsive, and everything seems to be going wrong. In moments like this, Captain […]
The Hijacking Everyone Thought Was a Prank
For the passengers and crew of Eastern Airlines Flight 7, February 3, 1969, is a day they will never forget. That was the day they all had a serious brush with disaster, […]
Learn About the Crash That Proved Chuck Yeager Had the Right Stuff
Any article that attempts to list the accomplishments of Chuck Yeager is destined to be very long or incomplete. The man who became the first person to break the sound barrier would […]
