Famous Missions

There are a host of military missions which have been carried out with the use of aircraft. Some have been defining, even life-saving, while others are renowned due to the apparent improbability of success. Many of these legendary tales have found their way into the history books and newspapers, crowning brave pilots with awards of [...]

Norwegian Aviation Museum

Bodoe Norway The Norwegian National Aviation Museum or “Norsk Luftfartsmuseum” has a number of exhibits and special programs dedicated to civil and military aviation history and Norway’s role within it. The collections are a cooperative venture between the Norwegian National Aviation Museum, the AVINOR Museum, and the Military Defense Museum. The Norwegian National Aviation Museum [...]

Manufacturers

There are essentially two types of manufacturers in the aviation industry, aircraft manufacturers and aircraft component manufacturers. Certain aircraft manufacturers will cover a variety of types of aircraft whilst others will specialize, for example, in military jets, airliners, gliders, helicopters and so on. Component manufacturers likewise may cover various parts or deal with a specific [...]

Airbus

Airbus opened for business in 1970, and by 2006 had grown to employ 55,000 people. Airbus manufactures aircraft that have more than 100 seats. Based in Toulouse in France, Airbus is an European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. They produce 14 different aircraft, including the A380, which will have seating for 555 people and be [...]

Boeing

Based in Chicago, Boeing manufactures commercial jets and military aircraft, rotor craft, missiles, launch vehicles, defense and electronic systems, and communications systems. The company employs more than 155,000 people in 67 countries. Boeing’s long history includes development of bombers, fighter planes, and surveillance aircraft. In 1997, Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner [...]

Bombardier

In 1986, Bombardier entered the aircraft manufacturing business when it acquired Canadair, a manufacturer based in Canada. In 1989, it also acquired Short Brothers, a Northern Ireland manufacturer of military and civil aircraft, and defense systems. In 1990, Bombardier acquired Learjet Corporation, manufacturer of the Learjet business jet. Bombardier currently designs and manufactures the CRJ [...]

Embraer

Embraer is based in San José dos Campos, Brazil. Though it began as a government initiative in 1969, Embraer became a privately owned company in 1994. As of 2006, the airplane manufacturer employed 17,000 people, mostly in Brazil. Embraer sells commercial and executive jets. Embraer also supplies military aircraft to various countries, including the EMB [...]

Raytheon

Raytheon Company is based in Wichita, Kansas and in 2006 employed 8,000 people around the world, the majority of them in Kansas. Walter H. and Olive Ann Beech founded Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1932 to manufacture and develop business aircraft. During World War II, the company produced 7,400 aircraft for the U.S. military. In 1947, [...]

Pilots

Pilots are the life-blood of the aviation industry. Without aviation pilots there would be no flight. Pilots are highly trained licensed individuals who are in the drivers seat of commercial planes, military aircraft, helicopters and so forth. Throughout the history of aviation a number of great pilots have come to the fore. Whether they are [...]

Chuck Yeager

Chuck Yeager‘s most recognized achievement is being the first man to break the sound barrier, which he did on October 14, 1947 as a test pilot for the U.S. Air Force. Much earlier in his career, Yeager flew for the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Shortly after he claimed his first kill, [...]

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