In Flight USA Article Categories
In Flight USA Articles
Adventure Awaits Pilots in California’s South County
By Annamarie Buonocore
Introduction
J2 Cub at Wings of History Aviation Museum, San Martin. (Courtesy of Wings of History Aviation Museum) Perhaps one of the most overlooked parts of California is the Bay Area’s South County. Unless one is thinking about the pungent odor of garlic, South County is just another place travelers pass through between the Bay Area and Los Angeles. But for those who choose to stop, great treasures await. From fruit stands to two dynamic airports, this area, just miles outside of Silicon Valley that includes the south end of San Jose, Gilroy, and San Martin, offers great opportunities for aviation enthusiasts, pilots, and all who travel alongside of them.
Fifteen Million Global Visits to “The Davis-Monthan Airfield Register” Online Spurs Launch of Five New Aviation History Web sites
The Story of Aviation Pioneer James Herman Banning
By Louisa Jaggar and Pat Smith
Have you ever heard of James Herman Banning? If you have, you are unusual. Most people know Lindbergh and Earhart, but Banning, for the most part, has escaped the history books. Why? Because he was African American and in the 1920s the mainstream press didn’t write about African American aviators. He was the first African American to fly across the continental United States, and many believe he was the first to receive a United States issued pilot’s license.
Almost 70 years from the time of Banning’s death, Pat Smith was researching aviation heroes from Oklahoma for National Geographic’s Celebration of 100 Years of Flight. She found an aviation history file and pulled out a short news clip that mentioned Banning. She saved it because it peaked her interest and she wanted to know more about him. About two years later, she mentioned him to me. Together, we decided to write the story of his life for young adults.