History Of Aviation

06/17/2026

You wouldn't believe the crowd control skills flight attendants possess. Based on the ones I've known, they've earned honorary master's degrees in behavioral psychology. Watching them manage passengers is truly fascinating.

06/17/2026

Hey guys! We will be at the Splash-In this Saturday. Come on out, grab a bite to eat, see some amazing aircraft, and stop by and see us and grab some free swag while it lasts! See yall there!

Annual Splash-in on Douglas Lake
Saturday, June 20th
10am - 2pm

Seaplanes & Lakeshore Cookout!

Please join us for a day on the shores of Lake Douglas at East Tennessee's seaplane base, TN47!

If you have a seaplane, this is a great event to fly to, moor or dock your aircraft and be ferried to the shore in our soft sided boat. We'll be serving hamburgers, hotdogs, sides and desserts around 11:30.

If you are driving over, there's plenty of parking. The address is 882 Lakeshore Drive, Dandridge.

For more information, contact Bob Dilk: [email protected]

06/16/2026

Discover the hidden history of Project Aphrodite, an early UAV program. A visitor shared his grandfather's logbook detailing how Joe Kennedy died during a mission, piloting a remotely controlled aircraft loaded with bombs.

06/15/2026

Experience the intense combat tours of Marine pilots in the Solomons. From Guadalcanal to the Russell Islands, these aviators faced harrowing ordeals, with stories of survival and camaraderie during crucial WWII campaigns.

06/14/2026

Starting pilot training can feel overwhelming, like there's too much to grasp. But remember the most complex thing you've ever learned. If you learned that, you can learn to fly.

06/13/2026

Initially, Marine aviators weren't learning carrier landings. But as the Pacific war intensified with kamikaze attacks, the Navy needed more fighter pilots. They realized it was easier to train Marine Corsair pilots for carrier duty than to retrain Navy bomber pilots. This decision reshaped naval air strategy.

06/12/2026

The right flight instructor can transform your learning experience. An old saying wisely suggests spending years searching for a good one is far better than a few minutes with a bad one. Fear from a negative experience can permanently ruin aviation for you.

06/12/2026

Initially uninterested in college, he chose the Marine Corps right after graduation. His journey led him to guarding a naval weapons station before seizing an opportunity to attend the Naval Academy. He spent 21 years as a marine infantry officer, valuing the trust and respect among his peers and living out his passion for history.

06/11/2026

Discover the stunning cover art for this book, featuring the painting 'Falcons Over Iwo' by a renowned aviation artist. It depicts F4U Corsairs from VMF-221 providing support during the Iwo Jima landings in 1945.

06/10/2026

The Big Blue Blanket boasts a formidable fighter force. Multiple F4U Corsair divisions are strategically positioned at various altitudes to intercept incoming Japanese aircraft, including low-flying kamikazes that attempt to evade radar.