Famous Aviators - List of Famous Aviators

Aviators are the pilots of an airplane or other aircraft. A career in aviation is today considered to be a highly glamorous one, but just decades ago it was a dangerous field to venture into. Several aviation pioneers had lost their lives in their attempts to contribute to aircraft design, navigation and advancement of flight. The Wright brothers, no doubt, are among the first ones we think of while talking of aviators. Together they invented the aeronautical concept of three-axis control and made the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight possible. Gustave Albin Whitehead, another aviation pioneer gained much fame for designing and building gliders, flying machines and engines. He also claimed to have flown a powered flying machine prior to the Wright brothers though this claim is disputed. In the first half of the 20th century when aviation was predominantly a male-centric field, Amelia Mary Earhart became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Jacqueline Cochran was another noted female aviator who made an important contribution to the formation of Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). This section provides you information about the life and works of famous aviators from all over the globe.