Early Aviation Milestones

Historical images of pioneering aircraft, including unique designs and prototypes from the early 20th century, capturing the essence of early aviation.

1923 'helicopter' in trials at McCook Field, Ohio. It lifts from the ground, piloted by Arthur Smith and carrying Major T.H. Bane as a passenger. Jan. 19, 1923.
1923 'helicopter' in trials at McCook Field, Ohio. It lifts from the ground, piloted by Arthur Smith and carrying Major T.H. Bane as a passenger. Jan. 19, 1923.
149 assets in this story
6145-54349553
Helicopters - District of Columbia. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History
900-4794
Wright Brothers Flight at Kittyhawk, December 17 by Paul Carey, 1903
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Samuel Pierpont Langley 1834-1906 first flew unpiloted models of his AERODROME in 1896. This 1903 model with required a catapult for launching in calm air over water. Test flights of the full scale piloted plane failed on October 7 and December 8 1903.
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Britain's New Air Street Bombers In Flight ***** Oxfordshire.A view of some of the new "Overstrand" Bombing planes in flight over the Royal Air Force station at Bicester, their head quarters.The Idist (Bomber) Squadron of the Royal air force has been re-equipped as part of the government's new defence programme with Boulton and Paul "Overstrand" bombing planes, fitted with twin Bristol Pegasus Engines.A feature of the 'Planes if the New-Type rotating gun turrets in the nose of the Fuselage. November 10, 1936. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).
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Refuelling aloft -- a device which enables transatlantic flying boats to carry a much increased payload. How Imperial Airways transatlantic flying boats are refuelled in the air: the flying boat making contact with the tanker plane in the air, and receiving the fuel through a hose. Date: 1939
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Large megaphone on truck
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Airplane Saab Safir with civil registration SE-APN During flight . Aircraft Saab Safir with civil registration SE-APN during flight. Colored photo. Framed photo.
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Mr. Matthews adjusting his engine at Croydon this afternoon.Mr. F.R. Matthews, an instructor at the London Flying Club, is leaving Croydon at dawn to-morrow in an attempt to break Bert Hinkckler's records flight to Australia. There are also four other pilots making the attempt and they will compete in a friendly race to Australia. Mr. Matthews taught Army Johnson to fly. October 21, 1930.
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In this remarkable aircraft, seen flying over Dessau, four passengers sit in the wing, with forward-facing windows, apart from the 30 in the relatively small fuselage. Date: 1929
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On our Way to Labrador. Liverpool, N.S., from Breakwater.. H.N. Robinson (American, active 1870s)
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1940s DECEMBER 7 1941 FRONT SECTION OF AIRPLANE BLOWN APART AT HICKAM FIELD DURING JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR HAWAII USA
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Two pieces of aircraft B 18 in formation flight, about 1944-1959. Two pieces of aircraft B 18 in formation flight. Colored photo. Framed photo.
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Kenya, Laikipia, Lewa Downs. Will Craig with his 1930s style Waco Classic open cockpit bi-plane for ultimate aerial safaris.
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Wilbur Wright Gliding at Kitty Hawk
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Engraving depicting Victor Goddard's designed for a petrol engine helicopter. Victor Goddard (1897-1987) an Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Dated 20th Century
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Photography.Photography on passepartout within glass and frame.Motif: Two aircraft J 28 Vampire.Text on the back: with heartfelt thanks for an educational and pleasant gear service.Royal.Östgöta fly fleet two first J 28 "Vampire".H M Cruiser Göta Lion on 27/3 1952.g.Palmqvist.neg.nr 5621 Gun to PKR Lejons Gun room by Captain G. Palmkvist 27/3 1952.
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Aviation in Britain Before the First World War Cody carrier kite with a man (probably Cody) hanging beneath it. There are several soldiers on the ground below the kite. According to Cody he was fascinated by kites from a young age, when he saw the Chinese cooks who worked on the cattle drives making and flying toy kites. Like many of Cody's tales of his early life, it is difficult to say whether this is true or not.. In friendly competition he and his sons used to build kites and fly them to great heights. They began building larger and larger versions until Cody decided to try and construct a man carrier. After many trials and the occasional accident Cody designed and built a system that could easily carry a man to a height of over 2500 feet and hold him suitably stable whilst he was in the air. His design was purchased by the war office and Cody was employed as kiting instructor. Whilst man-carrying kites had been built previously, Codys use of a series of pilot kites to carry a cab
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Alphonse Pénaud's airplane, driven by twisted rubber bands. Alphonse Pénaud (1850-1880) a French aviation designer and engineer. Dated 19th Century
1899-20229583
Loading Transport Plane.
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Formation flying , Airplanes, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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An engraving depicting an electrically powered helicopter. Dated 20th century
1899-20382
Shadow of the fast Zeppelin air ship Schwaben keeping pace with an express train. From The Illustrated War News, 1915.
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Sikorsky Grand, 1913, Biplanes
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Formation flying , Airplanes, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Adolphe Celestin Pegoud (1889-1915) - a pre-WWI French aviator who became a fighter ace. On 21st September 1913, as a test pilot for Louis Bleriot (in a Bleriot model XI monoplane), Pegoud flew a loop, believing it to be the world's first, although Pyotr Nesterov, a Russian army pilot, had flown the first just 12 days earlier on 9th September 1913. Date: 1913
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Earn & Learn, Aviation
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Vintage Photograph. A hang glider in flight.
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Zeppelin airship shot down at Cuffley, near Enfield, during bombing raid on London, 1916. Artist: Unknown
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Illustration - Titanic Sinking. RMS Titanic Sinking. The illustration shows the increase in pressure on the sinking Titanic as the depth of the ocean increased. White Star Liner was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast Ireland during 1910 - 1911 and later sank on April 15th, 1912 after striking an iceberg off the coast of New Foundland during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, USA. (Photo by Titanic Images/Universal Images Group)
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From the magazine La Vie au Grand Air (Life in the Outdoors); Black and white photographs of women in their flying machines. Madam Pierre Lebaudy in 1904. Photograph taken showing the dirigible disappearing over the forest of Moissan.
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Boat Careened, 1793-1867 William Clarkson Stansfield (d.1867), Boat, 19th Century, 18th Century, Watercolour, Frame, Sea, Ship, Works on Paper, Shipwreck
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Airship LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 25 May 1930
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Potentialities of mass production of flying boats as troop carriers and heavy freighter airplanes during the Second World War. A 70-ton air freighter, with a cargo capacity of 1000 tons a year on a 12,000 mile route, could be used to replace seaborne traffic and release warships from convoy duties. Date: 1942
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Air Mail Safety Matches, Aviation
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Helicopters - Washington. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History
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Babies by the plane-load. Date: 1950s
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Boat Careened, 1793-1867. William Clarkson Stansfield (d.1867)
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Aeronautical navigation device, Appareil de Navigation Aerienne, System Kaufmann, 1869, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of a 19th century original
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Artwork: "Platypus of Falmouth" Artist: Dwight C. Shepler #129. Country: Unknown
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Documentary aerial and ground views of the Columbia sitting on the Lakebed Runway with the deservicing trucks following the STS-1 Mission, 04/14/1981. EAFB, CA Also available in 70 CN
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French poster for the Autogiro, the invention of the Spanish engineer Juan de la Cievra (1895-1936). First successful model, 1923. Aviation Aeronautics Gyroplane
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Illustration depicting Wiley Post and his plane Lockheed Vega. Wiley Post (1898-1935) an American aviator during the interwar period, the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Dated 20th Century
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Illustration depicting C. W. A. Scott and his plane Comet. Flight Lieutenant Charles William Anderson Scott (1903-1946) an English aviator, best known for winning the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race. Dated 20th Century
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Amelia Mary Earhart (Mrs Putnam) and her Lockheed Vega: she was the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo (1932) Date: 1897 - 1937
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First World War 1914-1918: Demonstration of the performance of the German Air Force. German propaganda powder from 1918 with a British double -decker that opens on flames. Sigmund Suchodolski 1875-1935, German artist. Airplanes, air war
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Vintage planes silhouettes collection
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Legends of aviation abstract retro airplane