The Air Force Once Bombed Montana
Today in 1944, the U.S. Air Force carried out a bombing raid in Montana. Even stranger, they did so at the request of the governor. We'll explain.
When The Supreme Court Kind Of Ruled That An Airplane Wasn’t A Motor Vehicle
Today in 1931, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that seems to say that a guy who stole an airplane was not guilty of breaking the law against stealing motor vehicles. It’s actually a little more complicated than that.
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.