| Throughout aviation history there were famous | | | | make that most famous of steps. We also cannot |
| people. The fame that they achieved was earned. | | | | forget the Mercury Program with the famous original |
| There were also people that were behind the scenes. | | | | seven astronauts. Then there was the Gemini |
| The ones that were behind the scenes were the | | | | Program that had two astronauts in a capsule. Then |
| unsung heroes. Technology with regards to aviation | | | | the Apollo Program with three astronauts on each |
| and aerospace has advanced at a rapid pace. The | | | | flight. Even with the horrific fatal fire in 1967 of Apollo |
| following are some examples of famous firsts. | | | | 1 on the launch pad with the loss of the three |
| The Wright Brothers were the first to fly a | | | | astronauts (Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger |
| heavier-than-air airplane but they didn't do it alone. | | | | Chaffee) the program went forward. |
| Without the Weather Service they wouldn't have | | | | The events that these individuals were involved in |
| known the location in the United States that had | | | | that changed aviation history and world history came |
| constant moderate to heavy winds so they could | | | | down to the following famous dates: |
| test there gliders. They corresponded with others | | | | Thursday December 17, 1903 at 10:35am for the |
| such as Octave Chanute. Without the help of Charlie | | | | Wright Brothers. |
| Taylor, their mechanic, they wouldn't have had an | | | | Saturday and Sunday May 20-21, 1927 for Charles |
| engine to power their airplane. The Wright Brothers | | | | Lindbergh. |
| didn't attend an Aeronautical University because one | | | | Tuesday October 14, 1947 for Chuck Yeager. |
| did not exist. They built there own wind tunnel and | | | | Sunday July 20, 1969 at 10:56:15pm EDT for Neil |
| they designed and made there own propellers. NASA | | | | Armstrong. |
| tested them and they were found to be 80% | | | | After each of the above pivotal events in aviation |
| efficient (today's are only 85%). The Wright Brothers | | | | and space there were many, many technological |
| had been told that they were crazy and that man | | | | advances and discoveries. After the Wright Brothers |
| was not meant to fly but they both persisted. They | | | | made there famous flight in 1903 many other aviation |
| did not give up. | | | | inventors and pioneers from around the world |
| Charles Lindbergh deserves all the fame and | | | | created, discovered and made great strides in |
| accolades that were bestowed upon him when he | | | | aviation. By the way, the speed of the Wright Flyer |
| made his solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean at the | | | | on that historic flight was 6.8 miles per hour. The |
| age of 25. But he didn't do it alone either. He had | | | | same goes for innovations and technological |
| financial backers to fund his flight. Also, without the | | | | breakthroughs during and after World War I. After |
| designers, engineers, and craftsman the airplane he | | | | Charles Lindbergh made his solo crossing of the |
| flew wouldn't exist. There were many detractors and | | | | Atlantic Ocean in 1927 in 33-1/2 hours, time and |
| naysayers. But he was a persistent man. He was told | | | | distance became shorter and shorter and the world |
| that he needed a multi-engine plane and he said that | | | | started to become a much smaller place. During and |
| wasn't necessary | | | | after World War II more and more technological |
| Chuck Yeager was the first man to break the sound | | | | achievements were made. After the sound barrier |
| barrier. He was 24-years old at the time. He would | | | | was broken in 1947 faster and faster aircraft (military |
| not have been able to do so without the people | | | | and civilian) were created. |
| from NACA (the precursor to NASA), or the U.S. Air | | | | And here are two examples of that: |
| Force. The Bell X-1 which he flew wouldn't exist | | | | On September 1, 1974 a U.S. Air Force SR-71 |
| without the designers, engineers, craftsman, and | | | | "Blackbird" spy plane flew from New York to London |
| technicians at Bell Aircraft. Hundreds of people were | | | | in 1-hour, 54-minutes, 56.4-seconds. |
| behind his endeavor. The aircraft was shaped like a.50 | | | | On February 7, 1996 a supersonic transport (SST) |
| caliber bullet and was built exceptionally strong. People | | | | called Concorde and flown by the British Airways |
| at the time were saying that the sound barrier was a | | | | airline, crossed the Atlantic Ocean from London to |
| physical barrier that could not be broken, and even if | | | | New York in the record time of 2-hours, 52-minutes, |
| it was it would lead to the destruction of the aircraft | | | | 59-seconds. |
| and fatality for the pilot. | | | | And the technology spinoffs from the space program |
| Neil Armstrong was the first man to step onto the | | | | are almost too many to count. The drive to discover, |
| moon. Without thousands and thousands of people in | | | | create, innovate and succeed is awe inspiring. These |
| NASA (scientists and engineers) and all of the | | | | famous firsts will not be forgotten and I am sure |
| contractors and sub-contractors that built all of the | | | | there will be many more famous firsts to come in |
| hardware (Saturn V rocket, Lunar Module, Command | | | | aviation and aerospace. |
| Module, etc., etc.) he would not have been able to | | | | |