The year was 1916, just 12½ years after the Wright brothers had their first successful flight at Kitty Hawk. World War I was underway in Europe, and the U.S. would join the fray the following year.

The first airplane equipped with an autopilot was a pivotal moment in aviation history. It transformed flying from a constant struggle to a more controlled, reliable endeavor. The first autopilot goes ...

Before the American defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin (maker of the F-35 Lightning II) existed, there were brave men with sky-high aspirations. On August 16, 1912, Glenn L. Martin ...

Calais to Dover (WHTM) — The very first heavier-than-air flight, on December 1903, covered a total of 180 feet. Six years later airplanes, aeroplanes, or avions, were traveling miles at a time-and ...

Work discusses Samuel P. Langley, his work with the Smithsonian, his work in aviation and with the first airplanes, including history of the Langley Aerodrome (Aeroplane). Focuses on Charles D.