111 years

First powered flight. Otto had flight dialed in way before. Well almost dialed, alas small sacrifices must be made.
 
Seems like it wasn't that long ago I was standing in the cold drizzle at First Flight watching my friend Kevin try to recreate the event. What was cool was seeing a B-2 and AF-1 (and I mean the latter literally) make a low pass.
 
I made sure to log a flight on the 100th anniversary; long time ago, I am getting Old.
 
We visited Kitty Hawk in 2003. Landing there, walking where the first flights took place, soaking it all in. Priceless.

*sigh* My kids were little, then. Now, they're all grown. Time doth fly.
:)
 
One of the saddest days of my life was the 100th anniversary of powered flight. I couldn't fly to the birthplace of aviation (Dayton Ohio) because of a VIP TFR. How far we've come indeed.
 
My first flying job was at First Flight. We flew C-172M I believe, 3 passengers, up in the air, around the light house, back on the ground. 15 minute flight seeing on the outer banks. I made $5.00 an hour because I could help out on maintenance.
 
paflyer said:
Not quite 44 years from 7 mph to Mach 1.
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A curious thought... if the airplane had ended up being absolutely worthless to the military and for making war, would the airplane have survived? How long until Mach 1 then? IMO, the airplane's rapid technological advance in the 20th century was entirely due to it's usefulness as a weapon to kill people. Every other use of the invention was a side benefit.
 
Dav8or said:
A curious thought... if the airplane had ended up being absolutely worthless to the military and for making war, would the airplane have survived? How long until Mach 1 then? IMO, the airplane's rapid technological advance in the 20th century was entirely due to it's usefulness as a weapon to kill people. Every other use of the invention was a side benefit.
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This is pretty much true for many things. The hawks have a lot to do with pushing tech. Then again, so have crazy ass people.
 
Nah stuff might be different but still awesome. Look at sailplanes and modern sport parachutes both cool as heck and built without mil money. Helicopters probably be in the stone age without mil money for certain.
 
Richard said:
Have you read the bio of Stanley Hiller? I think he was 16 yrs old when he burst onto the scene was his extraordinary machine.
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No, but I recall hearing that the R-22 was the first helicopter, once they basically figured them out, not designed to win a military contract. Maybe that was Robinson myth-making.
 
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