Tag: airplanes

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Helen Keller Once Flew A Plane, No Matter What People On The Internet Think

Today in 1880, the birthday of Helen Keller, the activist, author, speaker, and, on one occasion, a pilot. Never mind what randos on social media have claimed, here's the real story.

When Jacqueline Cochran Broke The Sound Barrier

Today in 1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Then again, Cochran moved at high speed her whole career.

This Vole Protects Itself From Predators By Cutting The Grass

The Brandt’s vole has an interesting way to protect itself from predators overhead: a research project found that the little rodent cuts the grass so it can keep a lookout.

Jets Can Burn Less Fuel Thanks To Electric Towing

Taxiing accounts for about 5 percent of a jet's fuel consumption, so one way to make flying greener is making taxiing greener, like through an all-electric towing system.

The “Cornfield Bomber” Landed Itself Without A Pilot

Today in 1970, an Air Force pilot had to eject from his fighter jet during a training exercise. So the plane just sort of got itself back onto the ground, mostly successfully.

The First Skywriting Was, No Surprise, For Advertising

On or around this day in 1922, a pilot wrote the first skywriting message in the United States. It was a way to demonstrate an advertising technique that would be a big part of business for the next few decades.

Incubus, The Esperanto-Language Movie Starring William Shatner

Today in 1966, the official release of "Incubus," the only Esperanto-language movie starring a pre-Star Trek William Shatner. The movie had such bad fortune some people actually thought it was cursed.

Boeing Once Used Potatoes To Test In-Flight WiFi

It’s National Aviation Day and National Potato Day, and amazingly, there's a story that brings them both together. Boeing used sacks of potatoes in place of humans when it began testing in-flight WiFi.

Before There Was CGI, There Was Special Effects Master Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen was a pioneer of special effects in movies in the days before computers, whose influence is still all over the world of movies today.

Turning Plastic Into Jet Fuel, In About An Hour

Researchers at Washington State University have found a way to convert plastic waste into jet fuel that takes only an hour. And it's also less energy-intensive, which could make recycling plastic more cost-effective and more common.

Harriet Quimby, The Pilot Who Became “Queen of the Channel Crossing”

Aviation pioneer Harriet Quimby isn't as well known as Amelia Earhart or Bessie Coleman but, as the first woman to fly across the English Channel, she definitely made an impact.

How A Pedal-Powered Airplane Crossed The English Channel

Today's the anniversary of a pretty unusual moment in the history of human flight: on this day in 1979, an airplane flew over the English Channel that was entirely powered by its pilot.