The history of aviation in
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
begins with the first aeronautical event of the flight of Robie Seidelinger in an aircraft of his own design, the
Delaplane, on 21 October 1910 at
Wawaset Park, Wilmington.
Events
* 1931
Clyde Edward Pangborn
Clyde Edward Pangborn ( ''c''. October 28, 1895 – March 29, 1958), nicknamed "Upside-Down Pangborn", was an American aviator and barnstormer who performed aerial stunts in the 1920s for the Gates Flying Circus. He was its half-owner, chief pi ...
and Hugh Herndon make the first flight across the Pacific in a Delaware built Bellanca J2 as part of a round-the world record attempt.
* 1941 Delaware native
George Welch became the first fighter pilot to respond to the bombing at
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...
.
* 1943
Women Airforce Service Pilots is formed by
Jacqueline Cochran
Jacqueline Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was an American pilot and business executive. She pioneered women's aviation as one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation. She set numerous records and was the first woman to br ...
with the merger of the 319th Women’s Flying Training Detachment and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, 2nd Ferrying Group.
Aircraft manufacturers
Bellanca Aircraft, 1927–present, was based out of
New Castle, Delaware during its most influential period from 1928 to 1954.
Aerospace
Many aerospace companies are incorporated in Delaware because of favorable tax status.
*
United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation (UTC) was an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. It researched, developed, and manufactured products in numerous areas, including aircraft engines, aerospace systems ...
, owner of
Sikorsky Aircraft
Sikorsky Aircraft is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was established by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923 and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian and military use.
Pre ...
.
Airports
*
List of airports in Delaware
*
Wilmington Airport is the primary commercial airport for the state.
Commercial service
Wilmington Airport in northern Delaware is the state's only commercial airport and has seen prior service from airlines including
Delta
Delta commonly refers to:
* Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet
* River delta, at a river mouth
* D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta")
* Delta Air Lines, US
* Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19
Delta may also re ...
, and
United and
Skybus. In June 2013, Frontier Airlines began service from the airport to numerous destinations throughout the country. This ended a five-year stretch in which Delaware was the only state in the union without commercial service. Frontier Airlines ended service from the airport in April 2015.
Organizations
Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame*
Experimental Aircraft Association chapter 240 is based out of Wilmington Delaware.
* Delaware Aviation Support, Inc.
Government and military
*All flight operations in Delaware are conducted within
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
oversight.
*The
Delaware State Police
The Delaware State Police (DSP) is a division of the Delaware Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security and is responsible for traffic regulation and law enforcement across the state of Delaware, especially in areas underserved by local p ...
operates 3
Bell 407, 1
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.
Design and development
Development began in the ...
, and 1
Cessna 182 in police and medical evacuations.
*The
Delaware Air National Guard operates out of New Castle Airport (ILG).
Museums
*Air Mobility Command museum at
Dover Air Force Base
*Delaware Aviation Museum at
Delaware Coastal Airport
Gallery
File:166th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules support for Hurricane Katrina victims.jpg, 166th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules support for Hurricane Katrina victims
File:CAP Fairchild 24-C8F NC16817.jpg, A CAP Fairchild 24 based at Rehoboth
References
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