Early Aviation History

Vintage photographs of early aircraft and aviation pioneers, showcasing historical aviation development and aircraft designs.

Thomas Selfridge and Wright Brothers Prepare for Takeoff
Thomas Selfridge and Wright Brothers Prepare for Takeoff
342 assets in this story
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Alberto Santos-Dumont 1873-1932 Brazilian aviator flying his controllable dirigible balloon winning the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize on October 19 1901 for a controlled flight around the Eiffel Tower.
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Two fighter planes fighting in the sky
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Monoplanet "Ash no. 3" flown by Oscar box on Bonarpshed, spring 1912. The planet failed and not repaired. Previous tasks, which aims to imagine the image "The Nordic Star" is probably incorrect. For info, see the picture in the archive.
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Jimmy Broadbent on record making flight pauses a moment in Barwin while plane is refuelled.Broadbent second form left. June 03, 1935
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The hydro-aeroplane: coming changes in its construction. Showing the evolution of the waterplane or seaplane. Date: 1912
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ASPB , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy
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Thomas
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Untitled, circa 1931, by Eric Lee-Johnson.
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East Boston, Massachusetts: c. 1928 James Chin becomes the first Chinese aviator to get a commercial license at the East Boston airport.
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Constanta, Romania c. 1929Queen Marie of Romania with her daughter, Ileana, in a modern seaplane to inaugurate passenger airline service between Constanta and Balchik on the Black Sea.The royal pair have been instrumental in advancing aviation in their country.
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First Photos Walkins-Hearst Expedition Into The Antarctic -- The speedy Lockheed-Vega plane in which Capt. Sir Hubert Wilkins and Lt. Carl Ben Eielson Flew over the Antarctic was set up on skills before taking-off on the air expedition. June 5, 1929.
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Re-Enacts First Flight -- Billy Parker of Bartlesville, Okla., flys a 1912 pusher type airplane over the spot (Marker, right) that Orville and Wilbur Wright flew for the first time 50 years a- go today. Two early bird flyers Niels Bangs (left) of Staten Island, N.Y., and Syd Vineent of Newport News, ***** watch in foreground. February 2, 1954. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
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Poll photo collection. National Aerial Jource Holland. A Koolhoven FK 46 Biplane of the National Aviation School Holland with Adspirant Pilot on board an instructor. July 1935. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
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The pilots Arturo Ferrarin and Guido Masiero arriving in Tokyo on May 31 after leaving Rome on February 14, 1920, Raid Rome-Tokyo, Japan, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XVLII, No 23, June 6, 1920.
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Machines and pilots arrive at Aerodrome, in readiness for the London Johannesburg air race, Sept. 29th.L. to R: Lt. P.A. Booth, R.N., and C.G.M. Alington, with thei B.A. Eagle. September 24, 1936. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency Limited).
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Finnish Junkers Plan in Stockholm Flax Harbor, Lindarängen. AB Aerotransport.
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Amelia Earhart lowers herself from her aircraft at Londonderry after her solo transatlantic flight West to East Date: 1932
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Airplane races the Automobile, Classic Photography
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Meckler-Allen Aeroplane
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Bleriot Celebrates Thirtieth Anniversary of First Channel Flight -- M. Bleriot (centre with hand of plane) with his wife (second from left) and French Aero Club officials and Friends during the celebrations at Buo Aerodrome yesterday.M. Bleriot with is wife and officials of the Aero Club yesterday celebrated the Thirtieth Anniversary of the First Channel Flight. In an Airplane which took place on July 25th 1909, and also the first flight ever made in an Aeroplane when the plane flew from town to town and returned to the starting place on 31st October 1908. July 25, 1938. (Photo by Keystone).
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Flying at 157 -- Zara Agha, the world's oldest man, about to go for a flight at Brokclands for his first flying lesson, Although he has seen considerable changes in transport methods during his life, it was his first experience of serial travel. July 1, 1931. (Photo by Central News)
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Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,Transportation War
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ATC-Boats , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy
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A biplane in a studio photograph showing it flying over Los Angeles 27th March 1910
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Anefo photo collection. Car and motor colowbors Breda. November 1, 1952. Breda
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The first powered flight at Kitty Hawk. The Wright Flyer (often retrospectively referred to as Flyer I or 1903 Flyer) was the first successful heavier-than-air powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903, near Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.
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Mr H.F. Broadbent the young Sydney pilot who made a forced leading new Rockhampton Qld while attempting ***** cost Thursday afternoon. He plans to make a new start early Monday morning from Mascot. September 02, 1931
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This Photo Shows Clarence Chamberlain (Left) with Herbert C Smyth Jr. - President of the Crescnt aircraft Corp., of which Chamberlain is technical Director.Clarence Chamberlain, Trans-Atlantic Flier has Become a Plane Manufacture, being the Technical Director of the Crescent Aircraft Corp., Makers of the New Crescent Aircraft Corp., Makers of the New Crescent Planes. The First one Made was given a Try - out April 2, and proved to be perfect. Thea Rasche, after The test, has break the woman's sold Endurance record. The Crescent Plane was Tested over Roosevelt Field. February 04, 1929. (Photo by " P & A Photos").
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Female pilot at Aeromaterials School aircraft.
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Replica of WWI Morane-Saulnier L at the Guynemer pavilion, museum about WW1 flying ace fighter pilot Georges Guynemer, Poelkapelle, Flanders, Belgium, Europe
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12/31/1926. The American pilot Charles A. Lindbergh with his plane "the Spirit of Saint Louis", with which he made the first solo and non-stop Atlantic flight.
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Pre-flight check (OV2019_466)
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ESPAÑA AUTOMOVIL 30 III 1912 PG 75 AVIONES. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN.
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The torn flag of the British R101 airship salvaged from the wreck after the airship crashed on 5th October 1930 near Beauvais, France, on its maiden voyage. Date: October 1930
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The new German fighter biplane, nicknamed Fritz by the British. It had two Mercedes engines, and was manned by two gunners and the pilot. It could stay in flight for up to six hours. 1915
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Airman to attempt flight to Australia.Photo shows:- Mr. H.F. Broadbent supervising the filling of his plane with fuel at Hanworth.Mr. Harry Frank Broadbent, an Australian, aged 20, intents to leave at an early date on a flight to Australia from Hamworth Aerodrome. March 22, 1931. (Photo by The "Topical" Press Agency Ltd)
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Gianni Caproni on one of his aircraft
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Anefo photo collection. Helicopters, Utrecht. 17 February 1953. Soestdijk, Utrecht
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'Lorry and Leslie', c1939-1940, (1941). Creator: Unknown.
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Photograph of a horse with rider on a sledge, Stockholm, Sweden 1900
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Zeppelin airship, model 4, with inset bust portrait of Graf Zeppelin
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1920s PORTRAIT MAN PILOT SMILING SEATED IN AIRPLANE COCKPIT WEARING AVIATOR LEATHER HELMET AND GOGGLES