Happy National Aviation Day

Photo Credit: Library of Congress

Today is National Aviation Day and 138th birthday of Orville Wright.

The National Park Service reports on events taking place at the Wright Brothers National Memorial to mark the occasion.

NYCAviation.com features a list of aviation milestones that have taken place on August 19th, including the founding of Embraer Aircraft in Brazil in 1969.

Source: NYC Aviation and The National Park Service

Cessna Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Citation's First Flight

Cessna Aircraft Company is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Citation, the first airplane model in what has become the largest fleet of business jets in the world.

Photo Credit: Cessna

On Sept. 15, 1969, pilot-in-command Milt Sills and co-pilot J.L. LeSueur flew the first prototype of the Cessna Citation from Wichita's Municipal Airport (now Mid-Continent Airport). The one hour and 45 minute flight was a significant milestone in bringing the company's first business jet to market. Flight testing continued until certification in September 1971, followed by deliveries in January 1972.

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna had unveiled a mockup of the aircraft in October 1968, originally calling it the Fanjet 500. The concept was to offer a growing population of business travelers an aircraft that was an easy transition for twin-engine turboprop pilots and a quieter, simpler, safer and less expensive option than other business jets on the market. At a price of about $695,000, the Citation offered a maximum cruise speed of 349 knots true air speed in a six-passenger, pressurized, turbofan-powered business jet with short takeoff and landing requirements.

Source: Cessna

Celebrating The 100th Anniversary Of The Flight Of Louis Blériot Across The English Channel

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The New York Times and MSNBC report on the re-creation of the flight of Louis Blériot across the English Channel from France to Dover, England.

To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the flight, pilots re-enacted the crossing across the 22 mile channel. One pilot made the trip in a replica of the Blériot plane.

Photo Credit: Monash Univerity

Blériot plane was a far cry from the sturdy metal aircraft of today. According the the New York Times story, the plane was made from wood, wire and canvas, and had wheel axles no thicker than a broomstick.

Source: The New York Times, MSNBC, Monash University

“Liberty Belle” B-17 Flying Fortress Crosses Atlantic Ocean For July 4th

Photo by Alton K. Marsh
The APOA Pilot Blog reports on the the “Liberty Belle”, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress that is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and set to land on the Fourth of July in England.
According to the story, the Liberty Belle will arrive on the Fourth in Duxford, Englnad, performing a flyby above an cemetery where 300,000 Americans who died in World War II are buried.
You can track the flight on the Liberty Foundation's offical homepage.
There are more photos of the Liberty Belle on the Liberty Foundation's Flickr account and more photos of WWII aircraft.
Source: AOPA Pilot Blog and The Liberty Foundation

Cessna 195 Keepsake Ornament from Hallmark

This Cessna 195 ornament from Hallmark looks sleek enough to have Santa consider giving the reindeer a break this year and getting his own plane. While this ornament's nose is not red and shiny like Rudolph's, it does have a propeller that turns.

According to Hallmark...

This winged Keepsake Ornament is so richly detailed it seems just about ready for takeoff. The little Cessna will make a great addition to the tree or a treasured stocking stuffer for a child or armchair pilot. Comes with a full-sized Hallmark greeting card, with your personal message.

Source: Hallmark

Journey around the world by helicopter completed

KansasCity.com features an Associated Press story on Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill, the first pilots to complete an around the world flight by helicopter from North to South poles.

The pilots made the journey in a single trip, stopping for fuel 101 times, flying 37,000 miles, and passing through 26 countries.

You can read more about the trip at www.polarfirst.com.

A witness to aviation history

TimesArgus.com features a story on Anne Condelli, who witnessed the takeoff of Charles Lindbergh on his historic flight across the Atlantic.

Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, N.Y. on May 20, 1927.

Condelli describes the takeoff as a tense moment. Lindbergh's plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, made an awkward takeoff and there were some fears that the plane might clip nearby phone lines as it ascended.