history of aviation | Hartzell Propeller

The Orteig Prize: A $25,000 Reward that Inspired Aviation ‘Madness’

Kern Patton — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 13:24:50 +0000

In 1996, Peter Diamandis created the $10 million Ansari X Prize, with the goal of stimulating non-government funded spaceflights. Eight years after Diamandis issued the offer, SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan, became the first privately-funded human spaceflight in history. The incentive prize led to exponential breakthroughs in technology and expanded opportunities for manned flight. But, […]

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From Balloons to Drones: The History of Aerial Photography

Kern Patton — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 21:38:41 +0000

If you’re like most pilots, you’ve probably taken your fair share of photos from the cockpit. But when you’re capturing the views from high in the clouds, have you ever wondered how aerial photography got its start? As it turns out, snapshots from the skies have been around since before the invention of the airplane. […]

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Historic Aircraft Spotlight: Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

Kern Patton — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 15:08:08 +0000

During World War II, the U.S. Navy used dive bombing as one of the most accurate ways to attack enemy targets, including naval vessels. Dive bomber aircraft would dive in at a steep angle directly at the target, then pull up abruptly after dropping its bombs. The tactic proved highly useful because it allowed pilots […]

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