Remembering the Pioneers

During the early 1930s, Wittman designed and built highly successful air racers. As a racing pilot, Wittman competed against the likes of James Doolittle, winning many races and building a successful racing career.

In an effort to preserve his life and the lives of his friends, Jeppesen began to draw airfield charts and made notes of flight routes in what he referred to as his ‘little black book’.

Kollsman invented the world’s first accurate barometric altimeter.

For more than five centuries, numerous inventors, including Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci, attempted to design reliable parachutes. However, it was only in 1920 that the modern parachute, as we know it today, was patented.

In 1922, Clark developed the ‘Clark Y’ aerofoil profile, which was the result of substantial mathematical research to design the ideal cross-sectional shape of a wing. Early aircraft designers found that the ‘Clark Y’ aerofoil worked well for their designs. As a result, the ‘Clark Y’ aerofoil was incorporated into dozens of aircraft designs.

In 1852, Giffard built the world's first steerable airship.

Enrico Forlanini was a pioneer in helicopter design, hydrofoils and airship development.

Learn more about Clyde Cessna, founder of the Cessna Company.

When Ed Long died at the age of 83 in July 1999, he had accumulated more than 65 000 hours of flying experience, a record which still stands.

Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without resourcefulness. One pilot from the 1930s showed an extraordinary amount of resourcefulness and thereby epitomized the adventurous spirit of early aviation pioneers.

Kartveli was instrumental in the development of the P-47 Thunderbolt, F-105 Thunderchief and A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Let us take a closer look at one of the true trailblazers of aviation. For a few years during the early 1900s, he was seen as the best pilot in the world.