Jean Batten was born in 1909 in Rotorura, New Zealand. In her late teens, her father took her to a lecture given by the aviator Charles Kingsford-Smith. She was so inspired by the famous pilot that she declared her decision to learn to fly and was especially interested in breaking flight records. Batten and her … Read more
There are few pilots who can match the air time and flight experiences of General Chuck Yeager. This short post summaries the basic facts of his life and might inspire you to learn more about this legendary aviator. Charles Elwood “Chuck” Yeager is a noted test pilot who served as a major general in the … Read more
Amelia Earhart has cemented her place in history as one of America’s greatest pilots. This pioneer of aviation went on to set many prestigious flight records throughout her career. Although mystery still surrounds the circumstances of her disappearance, the accomplishments of this celebrated pilot simply cannot be denied. Amelia Mary Earhart was born to parents … Read more
Paul Bonhomme was born in England on September 22, 1964. His extensive career includes flying as a commercial pilot, an aerobatic racer and an airshow performer. Born into a family of aviators, Bonhomme was a natural to take up the profession himself. He received his private pilot license at the age of 18 and became … Read more
Nigel Lamb was born in 1956 in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). His father flew in World War II as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot. This led Lamb to pursue a career in the Rhodesian Air Force in 1975. He earned his wings in 1976 and began flying helicopters and jets. Lamb left the Air Force … Read more
Mike Mangold is an US Air Force veteran who has made a name for himself both as a commercial aviator and an aerobatics pilot, racking up numerous achievements in the sport of aircraft racing. Mangold was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1955; the oldest of three brothers, he moved with his family from Pennsylvania to … Read more
Melissa Pemberton has soared to new heights in the world of aviation. This young and daring pilot uses aerobatics during her flights to entertain audiences. She can be hired to perform her daring routines at special events. Melissa Andrzejewski Pemberton was born on June 22, 1984 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was a master rock climber … Read more
Kirby Chambliss was born on October 18, 1959 in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. He has an extensive career as both a commercial pilot and aerobatic racing pilot. An adventurous athlete in his youth, Chambliss participated in motocross and his father taught him to skydive. It was the thrill of the long spiral descent the plane … Read more
Alejandro Maclean (“Alex”) was born on August 6, 1969 in Madrid, Spain. From an early age, Maclean was fascinated with flying, building model airplanes and radio controlled aircraft. He bought his first Ultralight when he was 18. It was in this Ultralight that he suffered his first accident attempting an aerobatic maneuver. Undeterred by the … Read more
Carolyn Grace was born in and was native to Australia but lived in the UK for many years. As a young woman, Carolyn married Nick Grace, a pilot and aircraft mechanic. In 1979 her husband Nick purchased two Spitfire airframes, one of which was sold and the other (ML407) became Nick’s restoration project. Carolyn and … Read more
Touring on a PPL is a fantastic way to build cross-country flight time and have a lot of fun in the process. Think of touring on a PPL like a road trip except you’re doing it in an airplane. Length of Trip The first thing you’ll want to determine is the length of your trip … Read more