May 20 - Flying Firsts Day

 Posted on May 20, 2021

This is an update of my post published on May 20, 2010:

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean nonstop and alone.

On this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to do the same feat!

Both these aviators (airplane pilots) became very famous for their flying, and both used their fame to promote air travel. They had fascinating lives with the peaks of fame and achievement offset by the valleys of mistakes, failings, and tragedies. 

The most famous of these downturns is Amelia Earhart's disappearance and presumed death while trying to fly solo around the world. Probably one reason for the continued fascination with Earhart's solo attempt is the fact that it remains a mystery as to exactly how, where, and why she died.

Learn More About Lindbergh

To save weight on the plane, guess what Lindbergh did without on that long, lonely flight from the U.S. to Paris, France?

"To reduce weight, everything that was not utterly essential was left out. There would be no radio, gas gauge, night-flying lights, navigation equipment, or parachute." 

That quote comes from an interesting (short) article - check out the entire article for more cool info about the first oceanic crossing!

Here is a coloring page of Lindbergh. 

Learn More About Earhart

Here is a brief bio, plus a slide show, a jigsaw puzzle, a quiz, and more.

Here is a cool coloring page of Earhart with her plane.


Learn More About Planes

Make planes out of paper or styrofoam.

Also on this date:

Editor and Icelandic patriot Bergur Sigurbjörnsson's birthday  

Weights and Measures Day

Eliza Doolittle Day

Independence Day in East Timor

Cameroon's National Day

Birthday of actor / singer Cher

Emancipation Day in Florida

World Bee Day

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

• May holidays 
• May birthdays 
• Historical anniversaries in May
  
  

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

• June holidays
• June birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in June

February 18, 2013 - Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day

Here's a “first” that may never have crossed your mind:

On this date in 1931, a cow named Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane.

(!)

Ollie was a Guernsey cow, and she gave a lot of milk every day. Instead of being milked twice a day, she needed to be milked three times a day. So of course, on the 72-mile trip from Bismarck to St. Louis, Missouri, Elm Farm Ollie needed to be milked. Wisconsin man Elsworth Bunce therefore became the first man to milk a cow on an airplane. 

Ollie produced 24 quarts of milk during the flight. The milk was sealed into paper cartons and—get this!—parachuted down to spectators below. Charles Lindbergh, a famous pioneer of flight, was said to have received a glass of milk from the historic flight.

Scientists supposedly got a chance to observe midair effects on animals. But the flight was probably mostly a publicity stunt. It was part of the International Air Exposition, after all.

Flying Pigs and Snakes on a Plane

We humans move around a lot more these days than we used to, what with fun vacations, educational tours, and work relocations. And of course, a lot of our travel is via airplane. It's no surprise that we need a way to fly our animals as well.

Whether it's pets, farm livestock, service animals, or smuggled critters, there seems to be a whole lot of animals in airplanes!

Also on this date:

Presidents' Day

Battery Day 

Stained-glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany's birthday

Anniversary of the invention of the modern vacuum

May 20, 2010

Flying Firsts Day

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean nonstop and alone.

On this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to do the same feat!

Both these aviators (airplane pilots) became very famous for their flying, and both used their fame to promote air travel. They had fascinating lives with the peaks of fame and achievement offset by the valleys of mistakes, failings, and tragedy. The most famous of these is Amelia Earhart's disappearance and presumed death while trying to fly solo around the world. Probably one reason for the continued fascination with Earhart's solo attempt is the fact that it remains a mystery as to exactly how, where, and why she died.

Learn More About Lindbergh

You have to read this short one-paragraph article naming Lindbergh's flight as one of the 10 Most Groundbreaking Adventures! To save weight on the plane, guess what Lindbergh did without on that long, lonely flight?

Here is a coloring page of Lindbergh. 

Learn More About Earhart

Here is a brief bio, plus a slide show, a jigsaw puzzle, a quiz, and more.

Here is a cool coloring page of Earhart with her plane.


Learn More About Planes

Make planes out of paper or styrofoam.