DEC 17, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIRPLANE

[glendalegoon]

DECEMBER 17, 1903. First Powered, Controlled airplane flight. First flights from level ground, engine power. 2 flights by Orville, 2 by Wilbur.

WRIGHTS!

[barit1]

Coincidentally:

17 Dec is the 91th birthday of Don Fairbanks, CFI with a dozen ratings, who won a few trophies in his Knight Twister "White Knight" in the 1970s. http://www.steenaero.com/Files/Articles/ap_homebuilt_aircraft_sum-71_twisters_sisters_13.JPG

But Don had other "trophies" in his record too - tail gunner in a B-24 that dropped OSS personnel and supplies over occupied Europe during "the big one". http://www.tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org/documents/TSWMTakingFlightOctober2009.pdf

(edit) Don's still in good health, still attends the local aviation heritage society meetings, & He shared a piece of his birthday cake with me. Happy landings, Sir!

[Fris B. Fairing]

and Happy Birthday DC-3, the first of which made its maiden flight (as the Douglas Sleeper Transport) on 17 December 1935.