1903 - 2003
100 Years of Powered Flight
A yearlong series of weekly PSAs

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS JANUARY FIRST 1914, JUST 10 YEARS AFTER KITTY HAWK, WHEN THE FIRST REGULARLY SCHEDULED AIRLINE TOOK TO THE SKIES. LASTING JUST FOUR MONTHS, THE FLYING BOAT SERVICE SAFELY CARRIED 1200 PASSENGERS BETWEEN ST. PETERSBURG AND TAMPA, FLORIDA.

return to the top

WEEK 02 – JANUARY 5-11, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT TOOK A BOLD STEP TOWARD RACIAL EQUALITY DURING JANUARY OF 1941 WHEN IT ESTABLISHED THE 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON. KNOWN AS THE TUSKEEGEE AIRMEN, THIS DEDICATED GROUP OF BLACK PILOTS WAS THE ONLY SQUADRON TO NOT LOSE A BOMBER THEY ESCORTED DURING WORLD WAR II.

return to the top

WEEK 03 - JANUARY 12-18, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JANUARY 17TH, 1991: AMERICANS WATCHED THE LAUNCH OF OPERATION DESERT STORM ON CNN. DURING THE FIRST 14 HOURS OF AIRSTRIKES OVER BAGHDAD, COALITION FORCES FLEW MORE THAN 1200 COMBAT MISSIONS AND FIRED 106 CRUISE MISSILES.

return to the top

WEEK 04 - JANUARY 19-25, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS JANUARY 25TH, 1990 WHEN THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM SERVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME. BLACKBIRD CREWS FLEW MORE THAN 65 MILLION MILES - HALF OF WHICH WERE FLOWN AT THREE TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND.

return to the top

WEEK 05 - JANUARY 26-01, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

TRAGEDY STRUCK THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER EXPLODED 73 SECONDS AFTER LIFTOFF, KILLING ALL SEVEN ABOARD, INCLUDING SCHOOL TEACHER CHRISTA MCAULIFFE. IT WAS JANUARY 28TH, 1986.

return to the top

WEEK 06 - FEBRUARY 02-08, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

FEBRUARY 4TH 1946 MARKED THE DAY THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION WAS INCORPORATED. AFA LEADERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDED HOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN BOMBER PILOT JIMMY STEWART, LOBBIED CONGRESS TO CREATE A SEPARATE AIRPOWER-BASED SERVICE.

return to the top

WEEK 07 - FEBRUARY 09-15, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE 747 JUMBO JET MADE ITS INAGURAL FLIGHT ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 1969. WITH STANDARD SEATING FOR 347, THE 747 INTRODUCED HIGH PASSENGER VOLUME TO THE WORLD’S AIRWAYS.

return to the top

WEEK 08 - FEBRUARY 16-22, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

FEBRUARY 20TH, 1962: AMERICANS WATCHED ON TELEVISION AS MARINE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN GLENN JR. BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN ASTRONAUT TO ORBIT THE EARTH. HIS FLIGHT ABOARD FRIENDSHIP 7 LASTED NEARLY FIVE-HOURS.

return to the top

WEEK 09 - FEBRUARY 23-01, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE U.S. ARMY ENTERED THE TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTER AGE ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 1955, WHEN THE HU-1 IROQUOIS, OR “THE HUEY” AS ITS CALLED TODAY, WAS ADDED TO ITS INVENTORY. THE HUEY WAS OFTEN CALLED THE WORKHORSE OF THE ARMY.

return to the top

WEEK 10 – MARCH 02-08, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MARCH 2ND, 1910 MARKED THE DAY THAT LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN FOULIS, A FORMER MILITARY BALLOONIST, MADE HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN ARMY AIRPLANE NUMBER ONE AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS. REMARKABLY, FOULIS TAUGHT HIMSELF TO FLY THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.

return to the top

WEEK 11 - MARCH 09-15, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MARCH 15TH, 1916: AIRPOWER TOOK ITS FIRST ROLE IN CRIMEFIGHTING WHEN GENERAL JOHN “BLACKJACK” PERSHING COMMANDED THE FIRST AERO SQUADRON DURING THE HUNT FOR THE ELUSIVE PANCHO VILLA ALONG THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER.

return to the top

WEEK 12 - MARCH 16-22, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS MARCH 18TH, 1954 WHEN THE FIRST B-52 BOMBER ROLLED OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. ALTHOUGH PRODUCTION ENDED IN 1962, THE B-52 REMAINS IN SERVICE WITH THE U.S AIR FORCE – 49 YEARS LATER.

return to the top

WEEK 13 - MARCH 23-29, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MARCH 23RD, 1965: AIR FORCE MAJOR VIRGIL “GUS” GRISSOM BECAME THE FIRST U.S. ASTRONAUT TO GO INTO ORBIT TWICE, AS HE AND NAVY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN YOUNG ORBITED THE EARTH THREE TIMES IN THE GEMINI 3 SPACECRAFT.

return to the top

WEEK 14 - APRIL 30-05, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE COLD WAR SPACE RACE VERSUS THE SOVIETS HEATED UP AS THE FIRST U.S. ASTRONAUTS MET THE PUBLIC. ON APRIL 2ND, 1959, SEVEN TEST PILOTS OUT OF 100 CANDIDATES WERE INTRODUCED TO AMERICANS AS THE PROJECT MERCURY ASTRONAUTS.

return to the top

WEEK 15 - APRIL 06-12, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS APRIL 12TH, 1961, WHEN THE SOVIETS STUNNED THE WORLD WITH THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL MANNED SPACE FLIGHT. 20 YEARS TO THE DAY LATER, THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM LAUNCHED THE WORLD’S FIRST REUSABLE MANNED SPACECRAFT WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA MADE ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT.

return to the top

WEEK 16 - APRIL 13-19, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT BECAME KNOWN AS 10 MINUTES OVER TOKYO. ON APRIL 18TH, 1942, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JIMMY DOOLITTLE LED SIXTEEN B-25 BOMBERS IN A DARING ATTACK ON THE JAPANESE MAINLAND. DOOLITTLE WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR AFTER THE MISSION.

return to the top

WEEK 17 - APRIL 20-26, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

APRIL 25TH, 1997: THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION HOSTED AIR FORCE FIFTY IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. A CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE, THE FOUR-DAY EVENT WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW.

return to the top

WEEK 18 - APRIL 27-03, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT’S BECOME THE MODERN-DAY COMPASS. THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM BECAME FULLY OPERATIONAL, SEVENTEEN YEARS AFTER THE FIRST GPS TEST SATELLITE WAS LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. IT WAS APRIL 27TH, 1995.

return to the top

WEEK 19 – MAY 04-10, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS MAY 5TH, 1961 WHEN AMERICA COLLECTIVELY HELD ITS BREATH AS ASTRONAUT ALAN B. SHEPARD, JR. BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO BLAST INTO SPACE. HIS FLIGHT ABOARD FREEDOM 7 LASTED JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES AND TWENTY-EIGHT SECONDS.

return to the top

WEEK 20 - MAY 11-17, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

A RARE MILESTONE FOR WORLD WAR II B-17 BOMBER CREWS WAS REACHED ON MAY 17TH, 1943, WHEN THE CREW OF THE MEMPHIS BELLE BECAME THE FIRST TO COMPLETE A FULL TOUR OF 25-DAYLIGHT BOMBING MISSIONS OVER EUROPE.

return to the top

WEEK 21 – MAY 18-24, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS THE FIRST SOLO NON-STOP TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT IN HISTORY. ON MAY 21ST, 1927, CHARLES A. LINDBERGH CAPTURED THE WORLD’S ATTENTION WHEN HE PILOTED THE “SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS” FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS IN THIRTY-THREE HOURS AND THIRTY-TWO MINUTES.

return to the top

WEEK 22 - MAY 25-31, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS MAY 25TH, 1927 WHEN JIMMY DOOLITTLE FLEW THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL OUTSIDE LOOP. KNOWN AS THE MASTER OF THE CALCULATED RISK, DOOLITTLE WON THE MEDAL OF HONOR DURING WORLD WAR II AND WAS ONE OF THE GREAT LEADERS IN THE AMERICAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

return to the top

WEEK 23 - JUNE 01-07, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JUNE 7TH, 1965: AIR FORCE MAJOR EDWARD WHITE BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO WALK IN SPACE. WHITE AND AIR FORCE MAJOR JAMES MCDIVITT ALSO SET A SPACE ENDURANCE RECORD AS THEY ORBITED THE EARTH 62 TIMES IN JUST OVER 97 HOURS.

return to the top

WEEK 24 - JUNE 08-14, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS JUNE 8TH, 1953 WHEN THE U.S. AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS PERFORMED THEIR FIRST AERIAL DEMONSTRATION. TODAY, THE THUNDERBIRDS CONTINUE THEIR AERIAL ACROBATICS FOR LIVE AUDIENCES, AND HAVE ENTERTAINED MILLIONS OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.

return to the top

WEEK 25 - JUNE 15-21, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IN TOTAL SECRECY, THE F-117A STEALTH FIGHTER MADE ITS FIRST FLIGHT AT TONOPAH TEST RANGE IN NEVADA. THE STEALTH AIRCRAFT’S EXISTENCE WOULD NOT BECOME PUBLIC UNTIL 1988 - SEVEN YEARS AFTER ITS JUNE 18TH, 1981 FLIGHT.

return to the top

WEEK 26 - JUNE 22-28, 2003
Click here to listen

THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JUNE 26TH, 1948 MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT. WHEN THE OPERATION ENDED FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER, THE CITY HAD GAINED A TOTAL OF 2.3 MILLION TONS OF FOOD, FUEL, AND SUPPLIES.

Return to the Up From Kitty Hawk frontpage