Every year, thousands of people become aviators. These people aren’t just pilots, but aircraft designers, maintainers and more! This begs the question, who are the most famous aviators? Here’s who are…
13. Clyde Cessna
Anyone interested in general aviation should recognize his last name. His company, Cessna Aircraft Company has been one of the largest producers of general aviation aircraft since 1927!
In fact, Clyde Cessna, alongside many other aviators, settled in Wichita, Kansas the self-proclaimed “Air Capital of the world”! By being at the center of one of the largest aircraft manufacturers, Clyde became a mini-celebrity in his own right!
Cessna also became a household name through its Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 aircraft. The latter, in fact, is the most produced aircraft in history! All of Cessna’s aircraft bear Clyde’s name, even 60 years after his death!
With those facts in mind, it’s not hard to see why Clyde Cessna became one of the most famous aviators in history!
12. Jack Northrop
Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. But one of its founders, Jack Northrop is truly a pioneer of aviation!
Originally a draftsman (technical designer drawer) for Lougheed (the predecessor to Lockheed). Soon after that, Jack joined Douglas Aircraft (the predecessor to McDonnell Douglas) also as a draftsman.
Soon after that he decided to start his own manufacturing company. This company was known as Northrop Corporation, but was sold to Douglas two years later. He soon founded another company called Northrop.
Unlike other aircraft manufacturing company owners, Northrop wasn’t sat counting his riches. Instead, he was out there working as a draftsman, as he’d done at Douglas and at Lougheed.
By doing this, Jack came up with the “Flying wing” aircraft design which would go on to be a staple of Northrop (and later Northrop Grumman) military aircraft!
Northrop “Flying wing” aircraft include the B-2, B-21, XB-35 and XP-56!
11. Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager didn’t invent anything. Chuck Yeager didn’t start a massive aircraft manufacturer named after himself. Chuck Yeager was a first in aviation.
In 1946, Chuck Yeager piloted a Bell X-1 and was the first to break the sound barrier. But that wasn’t all Chuck Yeager was able to do! During WWII, he was a fighter ace on the Western Front.
Yeager also flew during the Vietnam War, becoming an ace there too! As a reward for being an ace in two wars, and doing a major first in aviation, Yeager was awarded something seemingly thought impossible.
Yeager went from a Flight Officer (WWII equivalent of a Warrant Officer) to a Brigadier General! Something that happens rarely if ever! It’s for these reasons why Chuck Yeager is one of the most famous aviators to have ever lived!
10. Montgolfier brothers
The Montgolfier Brothers lived several years before the other people on this list. As such, they didn’t make any airplanes or anything similar. Instead, they made hot air balloons.
But they didn’t make any random type of hot air balloon, they made the Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon. Doesn’t sound impressive? What if I told you that they were the first hot air balloons to ever be made?
Still not impressed? What if I told you that their hot air balloon was so good, that they are still used to this day, with only minor improvements? Still not impressed?
What if I told you that their hot air balloons have been used in 8 civil wars, two world wars, more prison escapes than I care to imagine and went around the world before Orville and Wilbur Wright were even born!
Whilst we may have forgotten them in the west, they are the most famous aviators in all of France!
9. Geoffrey de Havilland
Despite his brother being an unknown aviator, Geoffrey de Havilland is probably one of the most famous aviators to ever live! Geoffrey de Havilland was an aircraft designer and owner of de Havilland Aircraft Company.
His company designed and produced several iconic military and civilian aircraft. These aircraft include the Mosquito, the Vampire and the Comet!
Alongside his brother, Hereward de Havilland, Geoffrey designed and financed the production of the aircraft. These aircraft would all bear his name, and become famous all across the world!
From the battlefronts of the Western Front in WWII, to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, his aircraft could be found anywhere! In fact, despite his company being merged eventually into British Aerospace (now BAE Systems), his company still survives!
De Havilland Canada still operates. Although, control of the company no longer falls to the de Havilland family. As such, Geoffrey de Havilland, even after his death, has continued to be one of the most famous aviators to have ever lived!
8. Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is certainly the oldest aviator on this list. He wasn’t just an artist, designer and architect, but also an aviator! Despite the fact that he never made his own aircraft or ‘contributed’ to making one, he did in his own little way…
He discovered that the weight of an object didn’t affect how gravity worked on it. That is to say, that a large boulder wouldn’t come crashing down faster than a small pebble would.
This discovery, although da Vinci wouldn’t know it at the time, would go on to help the aviators of the future!
Plus, da Vinci also designed several of his own aircraft! However, these aircraft weren’t feasible then (or now really!) chief among them were his helicopters.
7. Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes is famous for a to of things. Over his lifetime, he was a major player in the entertainment industry, real estate industry and the aviation industry!
Howard Hughes wasn’t just the owner of the Hughes Aircraft Company, but also several airlines as well!
Hughes’ Airline empire consisted of Trans World Airlines, Northeast Airlines and Air West (later renamed Hughes Airwest).
Hughes as also the owner of Hughes Aircraft company which produced several aircraft, including:
- Hughes H1
- Hughes D-2/XF-11
- Hughes H-4 Hercules
Hughes’ company also produced several helicopters which were very popular (or just outlandish to say the least!)
Howard Hughes is mostly remembered (in aviation at least) for his round-the-world flight. In 1938, Howard Hughes was able to beat the world rcord for the round-the-world flight by almost four days!
His flight was so fast, that he had even completed the flight before the pictures of his flight had arrived from the other parts of the world!
6. William Boeing
Everyone should be familiar with this name. If not his whole name, his last name should certainly sound familiar…
William Boeing was the founder of The Boeing Company, having founded the company in 1916. Although he didn’t invent anything directly to benefit the aviation he world, he left an almighty legacy.
Although Boeing’s company was broken up by the US government, the most important part of his company retains his name. The aptly named Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Just as its predecessor was over 100 years ago, Boeing Commercial Airplanes is the largest aircraft manufacturer on the planet, and is certainly the most well known! As such, William Boeing is one of the most famous aviators to have ever lived!
5. Wright Brothers
Perhaps without the Wright Brothers, you wouldn’t be reading this now! (Unless you believe that Gustave Whitehead was truly the first to do manned flight!)
Besides their argument with Gustave Whitehead, Wilbur and Orville Wright are generally considered to be the first to undergo manned flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft!
Quite frankly, the story of the Wright Brothers is legendary! Their Wright Flyer was used on a cold December morning in 1903, and landed then in the pages of history!
In fact, many studies have shown that people think of the Wright brothers’ story whenever they are asked to name a famous aviator! That’s just how legendary they are!
4. Glenn Curtiss
Glenn Curtiss contributed a significant amount to the aviation industry both during and after his life. Originally, he built aircraft with modified motorcycle engines as their main power source.
Eventually, he saw that these motorcycle engines weren’t powerful enough for the aircraft he hoped to build. Instead of abandoning his ideas, he became an expert in engines, and soon built his own, for his own aircraft.
This led to the founding of Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. His company specialized in naval aircraft, although did produce several aircarft for the army during WWI.
After WWI, his company merged with the Wright Airplane Company to become Curtiss-Wright Corporation. A company that still produces aircraft air frames, valves, engines and propellers to this day!
3. Marcel Bloch
Doesn’t sound familiar? Don’t worry. Perhaps his other name may sound more familiar… Although born as Marcel Bloch, he changed his name to Marcel Dassault, in honor of his brother’s nom de guerre during WWII.
Dassault’s company, although nationalized by the pre-WWII government, Dassault regained control over it after WWII. Dassault’s company manufactured aircraft and aircraft parts since 1921.
But before Dassault founded his own company, he would work for the French government during WWI. During this time, he was the first to develop a rotor that could be used alongside a machine gun for the French military.
After WWI, in 1921, Dassault founded his own company. Originally, his company produced the French military’s aircraft. But, soon after, Marcel Dassault saw the success of the Learjet 23.
As such, Marcel Dassault began to develop his own private/business jet. In 1970, Dassault released their first business jet of their Falcon line. The Falcon line has become arguably the most famous line of business jets ever produced!
2. Louis Blériot
Arguably, Loius Blériot left the largest impact on the aviation industry! Before his invention of the hand-operated joystick and the foot-operated rudder, steering aircraft was tremendously difficult and made flying even more dangerous!
To add to this success, Blériot was also the first person to ever fly across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft. Blériot indeed did found his own aircraft manufacturer, but only after he’d made his inventions.
His company Blériot Aéronautique did quite well until the end of WWI. Their monoplane reconnaissance aircraft served the French and Allied forces well during the war. Blériot was famous among all of the Allied pilots of WWI.
However, after the end of WWI, Blériot was forced to liquidate much of the company. However, Blériot was able to produce general aviation and stunt aircraft for the general public, which made him quite rich!
He eventually got into the passenger aircraft industry, after a failed attempt before WWI. His Blériot 73 and Blériot 115 were massive hits that turned him from an unknown aviator to the general public into one of the most famous aviators ever!
1. Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart is probably the most famous female aviator ever! Although she wasn’t the first woman to get her pilot’s license, she was the first woman to publicize her endeavors! And by doing so, she became world famous!
Earhart is famous for many things. She was the first woman to write a book about aviation, setting a trend for women that continues to this day! She was also the first woman to fly solo over the atlantic ocean!
But she is probably most famous for her disappearance. Whilst attempting to be the first woman to fly around the world, she disappeared, she, nor her crew or aircraft were ever seen again.
As a result, theories have surfaced about what might have happened to her. This has continued to keep her in the public eye, even 75 years after her disappearance! As such, she is one of the most famous aviators, but not from something she could directly control…
Which are your most famous aviators? Tell me in the comments!