If you want to expand your knowledge about aviation or share it with others, there are plenty of great podcasts out there covering a range of aviation-related subjects.
One of the most acclaimed podcasts is Inspired Pilot. This show showcases stories about inspiring pilots from all backgrounds, detailing how they started in aviation and their life journey thus far.
1. The Wright Brothers
Wilbur and Orville Wright may never have achieved fame, yet their contributions were pivotal in advancing modern aviation. Many refer to them as the fathers of modern aviation; their story continues to be told around the globe.
They began their journey towards flight in Dayton, Ohio where they owned a bicycle repair shop and spent most of their time working towards creating a powered flying machine. Although there were many setbacks and obstacles along their journey to flight, their perseverance and determination ultimately allowed them to overcome any limitations which had previously prevented humanity from flight.
At their initial flight experiments, the Wright Brothers faced three core issues that they needed to solve: creating lift, moving an aircraft through the air and controlling its flight. According to Peter Jakab, Director of Aerospace Museum at Kitty Hawk, they addressed these challenges through experimentation and analysis.
After several gliders failed to generate adequate lift, the Wright Brothers returned to Kitty Hawk in 1901 with a revised design. They included two sets of wings stacked one above another on an independent framework that enabled them to independently turn each set. They also added elevators in front of each wing so as to control pitch (or angle of flight) during flight.
In 1903, they finally completed their invention: a flying machine capable of transportation. Contacting the U.S. Weather Bureau to find an ideal test site, they landed upon North Carolina’s Outer Banks with its steady winds and numerous soft sand dunes to facilitate landings easily.
2. The Spirit of St. Louis
Aviation professionals have always been an eclectic bunch, embodying an ambitious yet free-thinking spirit who find solace in flying or the machines that enable it. Aviators enjoy sharing their stories and experiences with others.
Charles Lindbergh was no exception; in 1927, he made history when he flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean for what is widely regarded as one of the greatest single-pilot transatlantic flights ever attempted.
Lindbergh made history when he successfully piloted his single-engine plane from New York to Paris without stopping, becoming the first person ever to fly the entire 2,600 mile trip solo.
Lindbergh set out to design a plane that would stand up to the rigorous demands of long cross-Atlantic flights, so he chose a single engine design, giving more range, fuel efficiency, and reduced risk.
Lindbergh’s aircraft became an icon both of its time and the aviation industry as a whole. Additionally, it served as a beacon of hope to those who believed they may never achieve their goals.
Once the Spirit left Roosevelt Airfield in Garden City (Long Island), New York for Paris, it took 33 hours and 30 minutes to arrive at its final destination.
Lindbergh endured an exhausting journey. He needed to stay awake for long stretches as his airplane cruised at 100 miles per hour. To successfully navigate, he constantly adjusted course based on wind patterns he observed from ocean waves as well as crosswind strength calculations.
Lindbergh arrived in Paris to cheering crowds and was presented a check for $25,000 from New York hotelier Raymond Orteig; afterwards he donated the Spirit to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
3. St. Elmo’s Fire
An Airbus pilot flying from Miami to Denver during Hurricane Ian managed to capture this breathtaking weather phenomenon from his cockpit. Though rarely witnessed by pilots, electrical discharge can occur during thunderstorms when charged atmosphere creates an electrical field around an object resulting in electrical charges being dissipated between objects in their proximity and air molecules around them resulting in electrical discharge between an object and air molecules forming an electric discharge that creates an electric spark between object and surrounding atmosphere.
Corona discharge, also known as sparking, occurs when an object’s difference of charge with air is sufficient to ionize surrounding air molecules into plasma that emits blue or violet light. Corona discharges are commonly seen on pointed objects like steeples or masts but they can also occur on airplane wings or windscreens.
St. Elmo’s Fire can often be mistaken for ball lightning, an unexplained weather phenomenon found worldwide. St. Elmo’s Fire differs in that it does not produce bursts of electricity but rather emits blue or violet glow with hissing sounds [source: Scientific American].
Storm conditions often catalyze plasma discharge, creating surface quasi-lightning when items such as an airplane wing or church steeple point into an ionized cloud and disrupt its charges, creating streaks of surface plasma that appear to crawl along the ground like self-adhesive lightning.
It has long been associated with sailors due to its regular appearance on ship masts. So it should come as no surprise that sailors often looked upon these glowing blue streaks with wonder, often taking them as good omens for impending lightning strikes or as signs from God that all would survive to share the story later on. Unfortunately not every event ended well for everyone involved though as some sailors didn’t live long enough after their lightning strike to share its tale.
4. The Pilot’s Diary
At an era of slide-rule design and high-performance military aircraft, pilots needed to be extremely skilled and fast to survive the challenges and dangers presented by dogfights and other air-to-ground conflicts on a regular basis. While this task presented its own set of unique difficulties and rewards, success provided an equal measure.
During World War II, many pilots kept diaries detailing their missions and experiences – sadly though most of these diaries ended up hidden away in attics or trashed by family members when crewmen passed on.
Some diaries from World War One have since been shared with the world through publication or are lost forever; we’re fortunate to possess several here at The War Zone.
An amazing diary written by one of the first Allied airmen, Guy Mainwaring Knocker, provides an incredible window into life at the forefront of World War One in his time and place. Knocker wrote daily letters home from France; in addition, he was an artist and photographer of considerable talent.
Another diary by an American woman, Ann Wood, who flew a bomber during the Battle of Britain provides an effective depiction of life on board in those early days of WWII. Her narrative provides a vivid account of life at sea during one of World War II’s major conflicts.
Experiences that demonstrate a pilot’s ups and downs and their determination to remain positive regardless of difficulties are some of the best aviation stories and experiences to share. They provide us all with something valuable to learn from.
5. Flight to Freedom
Flight to Freedom is a collection of 30 remarkable personal stories designed to challenge and encourage Canadians to reconsider their approach to refugee resettlement. This book serves as a compelling counterpart to statistics and photos depicting faceless crowds crammed into boats; instead it brings the human side of this issue into focus, showing why helping refugees find homes is so vitally important.
It offers an intimate glimpse of those who have left their homes to seek freedom and security; their stories highlight both the horrors of travel as well as their incredible bravery as they make their journey to freedom. This book not only celebrates these individuals’ contributions to our nation, but is a call for us all to become more generous by supporting those in need.
This game-like simulation provides children with a powerful and compelling learning experience of slavery. Its realistic depictions of an African-American girl will enable them to understand what it was like being ordered around by her master, leaving family behind in search of freedom, and making decisions with very real consequences – though this should not be used alone; resources on slavery are included at the back of this book).
This picture book for young children will make an excellent addition to any classroom library, sparking conversations about refugee issues while giving children an eyewitness account of our country through those who call it home.