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The Early Birds of Aviation is an organization devoted to the history of early pilots. The organization was started in 1928 and accepted a membership of 598 pioneering aviators.
Membership was limited to those who piloted a glider,
Early Birds of Aviation archive
at the Smithsonian 1928 establishments in the United States Aviation history of the United States Organizations established in 1928
The Early Birds of Aviation is an organization devoted to the history of early pilots. The organization was started in 1928 and accepted a membership of 598 pioneering aviators.
Membership was limited to those who piloted a glider, gas balloon
A gas balloon is a balloon that rises and floats in the air because it is filled with a gas lighter than air (such as helium or hydrogen). When not in flight, it is tethered to prevent it from flying away and is sealed at the bottom to prevent t ...
, or airplane
An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, Propeller (aircraft), propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a vari ...
, prior to December 17, 1916, covering the entirety of the pioneer era of aviation, and just over two years into World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. The cutoff date was set at December 17 to correspond to the first flights of Wilbur
Wilbur may refer to:
Arts and Entertainment
Wilbur, a livestock pig from the book Charlotte's Web Places in the United States
* Wilbur, Indiana, an unincorporated town
* Wilbur, Trenton, New Jersey, a neighborhood in the city of Trenton
* Wilbu ...
and Orville Wright
The Wright brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were American aviation pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first succes ...
. 1916 was chosen as a cutoff because a large number of people were trained in 1917 as pilots for World War I. Twelve of the aviators were women.
The original organization dissolved once the last living member had died. This occurred with the death of 99-year-old George D. Grundy Jr. on May 19, 1998. The organization was restarted and is devoted to collecting and publishing biographies on those who met the 1916 deadline. There were many pilots who soloed before the 1916 deadline who never applied to the club to be members. Some have been made honorary members.
See also
*Aero Club of America
The Aero Club of America was a social club formed in 1905 by Charles Jasper Glidden and Augustus Post, among others, to promote aviation in America. It was the parent organization of numerous state chapters, the first being the Aero Club of New E ...
* List of fatalities from aviation accidents
Many notable human fatalities have resulted from aviation accidents and incidents.
Those killed as part of a sporting, political, or musical group who flew together when the accident took place are usually only listed under the group sections; ...
* List of pilots awarded an Aviator's Certificate by the Aéro-Club de France in 1909
The Aéro-Club de France issued Aviators Certificates from 1 January 1910 on. These were internationally recognised under the authority of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
Following a suggestion by Georges Besançon, the secretary ...
* List of pilots awarded an Aviator's Certificate by the Aéro-Club de France in 1910
The Aéro-Club de France issued Aviators Certificates from 1909. These were internationally recognised under the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
List
Legend
See also
* Early Birds of Aviation
;Lists for other years:
* 1909
* 1911
* ...
References
External links
* {{official website, http://www.earlyaviators.com/Early Birds of Aviation archive
at the Smithsonian 1928 establishments in the United States Aviation history of the United States Organizations established in 1928