A Day in the Life | From Houston to Avenger Field by Julia Lauria-Blum
In November 1942 the very first class of the WFTD (Women’s Flying Training Detachment) Class 43-W-1, arrived in Houston where they trained at Houston Municipal Airport (briefly called Howard Hughes […]
On the Home Front and Overseas | The Impact of ‘Woman-power’ During WWII by Julia Lauria-Blum
To simply say that American women played a critical role as ‘weapons’ in the war effort during World War II, would be a drastic understatement. To put that in context, […]
‘Sasha’ – Aviation Visionary & Air Power Advocate by Julia Lauria-Blum
When recalling the names of pioneering innovators who made their mark within the aviation industry and advocated for airpower during World War II, Russian-born émigré Alexander de Seversky may not […]
Towing Targets… and Other Dangerous Liaisons by Julia Lauria-Blum
As the WASP performed a great variety of duties outside of ferrying missions, many of the women in the WFTD Training Command were selected for classified, high-risk flight operations. One […]
Jackie Cochran and the Need for Speed by Julia Lauria-Blum
Jackie Cochran climbed to 45,000 feet in a Canadair F-86 Sabre jet, leaving a contrail of ice crystals behind her path. Achieving the highest altitude necessary, she did a split […]
The First Instrument Flight & the ‘Link’ to IFR – 1929 by Julia Lauria-Blum
On September 24, 1929, one of the greatest milestones in aviation took place at the Full Flight Laboratory at Mitchel Field on Long Island when Army Lt. James Doolittle made […]
My Friend, The Invincible Teresa James by Julia Lauria-Blum
Originally published March 2, 2020/Metropolitan Airport News On June 12, 2001, a JetBlue airliner touched down at JFK International and taxied to its gate after a two-and-a-half-hour flight north from […]
Celia Hunter’s Remarkable Legacy by Julia Lauria-Blum
In a black and white photo that I borrowed from Celia Hunter in 2001, four young women in crisp white shirts and dark slacks stand beneath the cowling of a […]
Taking Flight | The Nadine Ramsey Story by Julia Lauria-Blum
Through skill, competence, experience, and fortitude, women have played a pivotal role in aviation, from its dawn to the present day. From travel in lighter-than-air balloons to powered aircraft; from […]
The Civilian Pilot Training Program by Julia Lauria-Blum
The Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) was a flight training program sponsored by the United States government. Its purpose was to increase the number of civilian pilots in order to […]