Aviation History

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America’s Freedom Plane Takes Flight

The National Archive’s Freedom Plane took off from the Coast Guard Hangar at Reagan Washington National Airport on March 2 as part of America’s Freedom 250 celebration. Dubbed “Archive One,” the Freedom Plane will ferry national treasures -- together and through the air for the first time -- to eight U.S. cities where they will be on display in prominent museums free to the public. See our coverage and learn about this historic mission.

From the Oval Office to the Skies: U.S. Presidents in the Aviation Age

The age of aviation has run through nearly half of our nation’s history. Since the Wright brothers took flight, 22 U.S. presidents, starting with Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., have witnessed and helped propel aviation forward.

First Flight in America

George Washington and four future presidents witnessed our nation’s first aviation milestone in Philadelphia, 1793, when Jean-Pierre Blanchard, the French aeronaut and pioneer of gas balloon flight, took to the air in a hydrogen-filled balloon from the interior yard of the Walnut Street Prison.

A Legacy of Greatness

How the Wright Brothers Transformed Our World

Recognizing 67 Years of Advancing Aviation Safety

FAA's 67th Anniversary — From pioneering the skies to advancing the future of aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration has safeguarded our airspace for 67 y

Ellen Church’s Bold Move

The Profession of “Stewardess,” Now Flight Attendant, Was Invented 95 Years Ago.

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