Old Time Pilots

Aviation as we know it is really not that old. The Wright Brothers made the first powered flight in 1903, not much more than 100 years ago.

Since then thousands of brave men and women have risked their lives in new, untested and sometimes dangerous machines, pushing their machines to, and sometimes beyond, the limit.

Today you can safely travel to the other side of the world in less than one day because of these remarkable pioneers.

I invite you to learn a little about some of these aviators, so that we do not forget about their courage and sacrifices. Read a little about each aviator here, and then learn more by following the “references” links on each page.

1911: William Hart

1911-1914: Circuit of Britain Air Race

An early air race organised by the Daily Mail newspaper in England. Here is some movie footage… Daily Mail – 1913 “The first prize is the sum of Â£5,000 to the first person who shall pilot a waterplane of entirely British invention and construction round England, Scotland, and Walesâ€”and, so far as Ireland is...

1909: Louis Bleriot

In 1909 Louis Bleriot was the first person to fly an airplane across the English Channel, a stretch of water about 20 miles (30 kilometres) across. By doing this, Belriot won a prize of 1000 pounds, a very large amount in those days. This video is in French, but shows actual film from Bleriot’s...

1908: Henri Farman

In 1908 Henri Farman, a Frenchman, was the first person to be officially recorded as flying a distance of one kilometre. He went on to set many records, including flying the first airplane to carry 3 people.

1903: The Wright Brothers

Orville Wright’s first flight lasted 12 seconds and he travelled 120 feet (37 metres, about 3/4 the length of an Olympic swimming pool). He and his brother Wilbur took turns and they gradually flew farther. These first flights took place at some sand dunes near the town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in the...