75 Most Amazing Aviation Moments Ever Caught on Camera

Aviation has been an integral part of human history, allowing us to travel to places that were once impossible to reach. Over the years, aviation has also given us some of the most awe-inspiring moments in history. From the first flight of the Wright brothers to the landing on the moon, aviation has provided us with some of the most amazing moments ever captured on camera. Here are 75 of the most incredible aviation moments ever recorded.

1. Wright Brothers' First Flight

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful powered flight in history. The flight lasted only 12 seconds but it marked a milestone in aviation history.

2. Charles Lindbergh's Solo Flight

On May 20-21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first person to do so.

3. Amelia Earhart's Solo Flight

On May 20-21, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Chuck Yeager Breaks the Sound Barrier

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 rocket plane.

5. First Jet-Powered Flight

On August 27, 1939, the Heinkel He 178 became the first jet-powered aircraft to fly.

6. Concorde's First Flight

On March 2, 1969, the Concorde supersonic jet made its first flight.

7. Neil Armstrong's Moon Landing

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.

8. First In-Flight Refueling

On June 27, 1923, the first in-flight refueling was completed by two Airco DH.4B biplanes.

9. The First Air Mail Flight

On May 15, 1918, the first air mail flight took off from Washington D.C. to New York City.

10. Amelia Earhart's Disappearance

On July 2, 1937, Amelia Earhart disappeared while attempting to fly around the world.

11. The Hindenburg Disaster

On May 6, 1937, the German airship Hindenburg caught fire and crashed in New Jersey, killing 36 people.

12. Jetman Flies Over Grand Canyon

In 2011, Swiss adventurer Yves Rossy, also known as Jetman, flew over the Grand Canyon using only a jet-powered wing.

13. Airbus A380's Maiden Flight

On April 27, 2005, the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, made its maiden flight.

14. Boeing 747's First Flight

On February 9, 1969, the Boeing 747 made its first flight, becoming the first wide-body passenger plane.

15. Sully Sullenberger's Miracle Landing

On January 15, 2009, pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after losing both engines.

16. Amelia Earhart's Transatlantic Flight

On June 17-18, 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger.

17. Concorde's Retirement

On October 24, 2003, the Concorde supersonic jet made its last commercial flight.

18. Boeing 707's First Flight

On December 20, 1957, the Boeing 707 made its first flight, becoming the first commercially successful jet-powered airliner.

19. First Female Commercial Airline Pilot

In 1973, Bonnie Tiburzi became the first female commercial airline pilot

20. Miracle on the Hudson: Flight 1549

In 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 suffered a bird strike shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of both engines. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger made the decision to land the plane in the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew.

21. The Blackbird Spy Plane

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a supersonic spy plane used by the US Air Force during the Cold War. It could fly at speeds of over 2,000 mph and at altitudes of over 80,000 feet.

22. First Woman in Space

On June 16, 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space.

23. The Wright Brothers' First Public Flight

On August 8, 1908, the Wright brothers made their first public flight in France, where they amazed onlookers with their flying skills.

24. The First Aircraft Carrier

In 1910, the US Navy launched its first aircraft carrier, the USS Birmingham.

25. The Bell X-1 Rocket Plane

The Bell X-1 rocket plane was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight, with Chuck Yeager at the controls.

26. The First Commercial Jetliner

In 1952, the de Havilland Comet became the world's first commercial jetliner, revolutionizing air travel.

27. First Transatlantic Flight

On June 14-15, 1919, John Alcock and Arthur Brown became the first people to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean.

28. The First Air Force One Flight

On January 20, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to fly on Air Force One.

29. The Red Bull Stratos Jump

In 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner broke the world record for highest skydive by jumping from a balloon at an altitude of over 24 miles.

30. The First Female Spacewalk

On June 16, 1983, Soviet cosmonauts Svetlana Savitskaya and Vladimir Dzhanibekov performed the first ever spacewalk by a woman.

31. The First Jet Fighter

In 1944, the Messerschmitt Me 262 became the world's first operational jet-powered fighter plane.

32. The First Helicopter

In 1907, French inventor Paul Cornu made the first successful flight in a helicopter.

33. The First Air Race

In 1909, the world's first air race was held in France, with pilots competing to fly the longest distance in a circular course.

34. The First Parachute Jump

In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin made the first successful parachute jump from a hot air balloon.

35. The First Commercial Airline

In 1914, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line became the world's first scheduled commercial airline.

36. The First Supersonic Passenger Flight

In 1976, the Concorde made the first supersonic passenger flight, cutting the travel time from New York to London by more than half.

37. The First Female Fighter Pilot

In 1995, Lt. Jeannie Leavitt became the first female fighter pilot in the US Air Force.

38. The First Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

In 1917, the US Army developed the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a remote-controlled biplane used for reconnaissance during World War I.

39. The First Transpolar Flight

In 1937, Soviet pilots Valery Chkalov, Georgy Baidukov, and Alexander Belyakov made the first trans