Comments on: The US Air Force Turns 150 Years Old?

By: Jeff Nilsson

Jeff Nilsson — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:06:22 +0000

Actually, the first ‘official’ flight in the U.S. took place on January 9, 1793.
On that day, Jean Pierre Blanchard demonstrated the potential of manned flight by sailing his hot-air balloon from the Walnut Street prison in Philadelphia. Hours later, he landed in Woodbury, New Jersey, where he was immediately surrounded by local citizens, who received him with apprehension and guns.
Blanchard reassured them by holding out to them a bottle of wine and a letter of introduction from the President. He had received it from the hands George Washington himself, who had been among the thousands of Philadelphians who watched Blanchard take off.
The note from Washington, some claim, was the first air-mail letter in U.S. history.
I may also have been the first security pass issued to an air traveller.

By: LaVerne Melhorn

LaVerne Melhorn — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:36:34 +0000

What a great story! I don’t think it matters whether it is officially U.S. Air Force or Aviation, that event certainly lead to military strength. I really liked reading that President Lincoln was the 1st president to fly.

By: Ronald Wilder

Ronald Wilder — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:31:44 +0000

This was vvvery interesting, but excuse an old airman when I say ‘ You mean 150th anniversary of the US aviation.” The US Air Force didn’t exist until after WWII. Yet
there was in fact another 1st communication from ground to air even if was only 500
feet up. If Lincoln went up, that’s a 1st. Using it for the military, that was a 1st.