Aviation History

Portable and makeshift sheds were used in harsh climates to shelter mechanics performing heavy engine maintenance away from dedicated facilities.

A line of Consolidated B-24E Liberators proceeds along the assembly line at Ford’s Willow Run plant near Detroit, Michigan. At its peak in 1944, the Willow Run plant produced one B-24 every hour.

With a touchdown speed of approximately 155 knots (178 miles per hour) and a design landing weight of 68,000 pounds, the SR-71 had significant energy to dissipate upon landing. To assist with this, a massive drag chute was deployed after touchdown. 

Just as mission requirements for aircraft evolve over the years, so too do the mission requirements for hangars. Originally built as a hangar for massive blimps, this wooden hangar was repurposed to house US Marine Corps CH-46 and CH-53 helicopters. Although these are some of the largest helicopters in the USMC fleet, they are dwarfed…

When most business jets roll out of their factories, they have relatively luxurious lives ahead of them. Private aviation is filled with resourceful owners in the form of wealthy individuals or corporations, and these premium aircraft typically fly a modest number of hours annually as they visit destinations like Miami, LA, and Teterboro. Between private flights, they tend to be regularly pampered with meticulous detailing, inside and out.