The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane: The Helicopter That Carries the World
If you’ve ever spotted a helicopter that looks more like a flying skeleton than a traditional chopper—no fuselage, just a framework with massive rotors on top—you were probably looking at a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane. And if you thought it looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie or a LEGO Technic set, you…
Inside the Hurricane: A Pilot’s View of Terror and Data Collection
I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with the Hurricane Hunters and the types of planes they use, but I just saw a very interesting interview that I had to share with you.From what I knew, they fly a few different aircraft—definitely a modified C-130, and I believe a G-IV—but I had no…
Katherine Stinson’s Forgotten Flight: A Record-Breaking Journey to Help the Grizzlies
In December 1917, as America was deep in the throes of World War I, a young woman made aviation history—but not for the reasons you might expect. Katherine Stinson, already a well-known aviator and stunt pilot by her mid-twenties, set out from San Diego on a daring nonstop flight to San Bruno, California. Her destination:…
Italy’s Forgotten Flyers: 10 Incredible Planes from the 1930s You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Before WWII, Italy quietly became a breeding ground for bold aviation innovation. From record-setting racers to floatplanes with folding wings, here are 10 Italian aircraft that deserve a second look. When we think of 1930s aviation, most minds jump to Britain’s Supermarine designs or Germany’s Luftwaffe. But Italy? Italy was out there breaking speed records,…
How Delta Airlines Took Flight
When you hear the name Delta Airlines, you probably picture sleek jets at bustling terminals, boarding calls over PA systems, and cross-country or international travel. But nearly a century ago, Delta’s story began somewhere far less glamorous: flying low and slow over Southern cotton fields, trailing clouds of pesticide behind biplanes built to fight bugs….
Air Travel? Not So Fast.
In the October 1928 issue of Popular Aviation magazine, the editor penned a thoughtful and surprisingly skeptical editorial titled “An Outsider Looks at Aviation.” Though he claimed to be no expert, his observations read like those of someone who understood that aviation wasn’t just a marvel of engineering—it was about to challenge the entire structure…