Delaware Aviation

Book excerpt: For such a small state, Delaware has a fascinating aviation history. Delaware counts aircraft from the smallest, like the 1910 Delaplane, to the largest, the USAF C-5 Galaxy airlifter, among its rich variety. Numerous small grass airstrips dotted the state in the early years, serving as an incubator for aerial progress. The state has been a home to aircraft manufacturers, notable aviators, and aeronautical innovators and hosts military aviation units from the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the US Air Force, and the Air Force Reserve on two major bases. World War II brought the development of Dover Air Force Base, currently the largest aerial superport in the United States. This collection of historical photographs depicts the colorful people, the locales, the varied aircraft, and the milestone events that make up the history of aviation in Delaware.