Aviation in Washington, D.C.

The United States capital, Washington, D.C., has been the site of several events in the nation's history of aviation, beginning from the time of the American Civil War, often for the purpose of promoting the adoption of new aeronautical technologies by the government. It has also been home to several governmental and civilian aircraft manufacturers and aviation organizations, and several aerospace contractors.

Aviation in Washington, D.C.
Aviation in the United States
Marine One taking off from the South Lawn at the White House
Airports
Commercial – primary0
Commercial – non-primary0
General aviation0
Other public-use airports0
Military and other airports2
First flight
June 17, 1861

Events

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Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's gas generators in 1861

The first aeronautical event was the tethered demonstration flight of a hot air balloon, the Enterprise, by Thaddeus S. C. Lowe to Abraham Lincoln. The flight included the demonstration of a balloon-to-ground telegraph, resulting in Lowe being appointed to the newly created position of Chief Aeronaut.[1]

Timeline of events

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Washington, D.C., as a backdrop to the USS Akron in 1931 or 1932.

Aircraft manufacturers

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Aerospace

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Most large Defense Contractors choose to have branch offices in Washington, D.C., for access to policy and budgetary decision makers.

Airports

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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia with Washington, D.C. visible in the background

Washington, D.C., does not have any public airports within its boundaries. The city is serviced by Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia; Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia; and Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Dulles is the primary international airport for the Washington metropolitan region while Reagan National is the primary domestic airport.

Washington, D.C., has 13 listed heliports.

Organizations

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Government and military

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Government

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Aviation chart showing restricted airspace in the Washington, D.C., area.

As the capital of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., is the headquarters for many agencies that oversee aviation, influence aviation policy, and use aviation resources.

Government flight operations

Aviation related government agencies headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Military

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Last flight out of Bolling Airfield in 1962.

College Park Airfield, College Park, MD. Wright Brothers experimental aeroplane development.

Museums

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College Park Aviation Museum, College Park, mD.

Film and media

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Washington, D.C., is a popular backdrop for aircraft photography.

See also

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Transportation in Washington, D.C.

References

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  1. ^ Spencer C. Tucker. The Civil War Naval Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ Tom D. Crouch. "Aero Club of Washington: Aviation in the Nation's Capital, 1909-1914": 46. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Steven Anzovin, Janet Podell. Famous first facts about American politics.
  4. ^ Aero and Hydro. May 17, 1913. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ Popular Mechanics. Feb 1922. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ Madden, Richard L. (February 18, 1974). "Soldier Lands Stolen Copter on White House Lawn". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Freeze, Christopher (April–May 2017). "Robert Preston's Wild Ride – The Time a Stolen Helicopter Landed on the White House Lawn". Air & Space/Smithsonian. National Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  8. ^ "Aviators rejoice over reopening of airspace; 3 airports still closed under FAA restrictions". The Sun. Dec 21, 2001.
  9. ^ "Man Arrested After Landing Gyrocopter By Capitol". 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  10. ^ Richard Whittle. The Dream Machine: The Untold History of the Notorious V-22 Osprey. p. 16.
  11. ^ "Arsenal of Democracy". Sport Aviation: 14. March 2015.
  12. ^ "FAA Starts No Drone Zone". 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  13. ^ "FAA No Drone Zone". Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  14. ^ Automobile Journal. 33. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ Aeronautics. 1910. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ Automobile Journal. 33: 64. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ^ Automobile Journal. 34: 68. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ Tom D. Crouch. "Aero Club of Washington: Aviation in the Nation's Capital, 1909-1914": 39. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ Kane, Robert (2003). Air Transportation. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. pp. 349–350. ISBN 0-7872-8881-0.
  20. ^ Popular Aeronautics: 67. Jan 1930. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "NDW History". Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  22. ^ United States Naval Institute. Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 48, Issues 7-12.
  23. ^ René J. Francillon (1979). McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920. ISBN 9780370000503.
  24. ^ "Home". nasm.si.edu.