From the earliest days, humans have dreamed of flying and have attempted to acheive it. Greek and roman mythology have examples of gods who were gifted with flight. Daedelus and Icarus flew through the air, and Icarus died when he flew too close to the sun. The final advances before the acheivements of the Wright brothers took place in Europe in the last decade of the nineteenth centurey. The first was that of the french Clement Aer who flew one machine more than 150 feet (50 meters) butonly inches off the ground and a second about ten feet (three meters) off the ground. He claimed he was the first to fly, but others categorized his acheivements as mere "hops."

The second and more significant development was that of the German engineer Otto Lilienthal who was the first to launch himself into the air and fly. He earned the title The father of aerial testing with his more than two thousand glider flights, some which covered distances of over a thousand feet before he died as a result of a crash landing in 1896.

Wilber and Orville Wright, printers and bicycle builders from Dayton Ohio, took their first serious step toward the invention of the airplane in 1899. They were superb, self trained engineers who developed and extraordinarily successful research strategy that enabled them to overcome one set of challenging problems after another, the full extent of which previous experimenters had not suspected.

The brothers made the first four sustained, powered flights under the control of the pilot near Kitty Hawk, N.C. on the morning of December 17th, 1903. Over the next two years they continued their work in a pasture near Dayton Ohio. By the fall of 1905, they had achieved their goal of constructing a practical flying machine capable of remaining in the air for extended periods of time and operating under the full control of the pilot. The air age had begun. (US Centenial of Flight Commision)

THE SHORT BROTHERS

Short Brothers, almost universally referred to simply as Shorts, is an aerospace company located in Belfast. Short Brothers is the oldest established aircraft manufacturer in the world and were a major World War II manufacturer of flying boats.

What would eventually become Shorts was formed in 1897 when Eustace and Oswald Short took their first flight in a coal gas filled balloon. In 1902 they started offering balloons for sale, winning a contract for three for the Indian Army in 1905. In 1908 they were joined by a third brother, Horace, and incorporated in order to sell licensed copies of the 'Wright Flyer'. They sold six Fliers to the Royal Aero Club over the next two years.

In 1910 they built the Short-Dunne 5, the first tailless aircraft to fly. In 1911 they built the world's first twin-engine aircraft, the S-39 or Triple Twin. Over the next few years Shorts built a variety of aircraft, but started to expand during World War I when they supplied the Short Admiralty Type 184 which went on to become the first aircraft to sink a ship, when one hit a Turkish cargo ship in the Dardanelles during the Battle of Gallipoli.

In 1936 the Air Ministry formed a new aircraft factory in Belfast, forming a merger owned 50% by both Harland and Wolff and Shorts to become Short & Harland Ltd. The first product of the new factory was 189 Handley-Page Hereford bombers.

Their work on seaplanes eventually culminated in the Shorts Sunderland, a massive flying boat with enough range to operate as a transatlantic airliner. However the Sunderland was considerably more famous as an anti-submarine patrol bomber during World War II, where its long range and long flying time allowed it to close the air gap between Iceland and Greenland, helping end the Battle of the Atlantic (1940).

During the Battle of Britain the Belfast factory became increasingly important as it was out of range of the German bombers.

In the 1950s Shorts pioneered Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, developing the technology that would lead to the building of the famous Harrier Jet.

In the 1960s Shorts found a niche for a new short-haul freighter aircraft, and responded with the Shorts Skyvan. The Skyvan is most remembered for it's blocky slab-sided appearance and equally rectangular twin tail units, but the plane was well loved for it's performance and loading. Skyvans can still be found around the world today, notably in the Canadian arctic.

In 1977 they renamed back to Short Brothers, and in 1984 became a plc when the government sold off it's remaining shares. The company was purchased by Bombardier in 1989, eventually losing its separate identity.

LILIAN BLAND

An atypical granddaughter of a Dean of Belfast, Lilian Bland of Carnmoney, Co. Antrim was the first woman in the world to design, construct and fly a plane. As a young woman she wore trousers, smoked cigarettes and tinkered with car engines. She was also a successful press photographer and sports journalist.

Louis Bleriot's cross-Channel flight (1909) inspired her to build her own bi-plane glider in 1910, the Mayfly, which successfully left the ground on Carnmoney Hill, with four police constables hanging on to the wings. She then installed a 20 h.p. engine in it, intending to build aircraft on a commercial scale, but lacked the finance and had to give up. In 1912 she emigrated to Canada, married a cousin and carved out a farm on virgin land. In 1935 she retired to Cornwall, England, "gambling, painting and gardening"- to quote her own words. Her aircraft, The Mayfly, was presented to the Dublin Flying club.

HARRY FERGUSON

Henry George 'Harry' Ferguson was born in 1884 on his family's farm at Growell, near Dromore, County Down. While still in his teens he entered his brotherJoe's car and cycle repair business in Belfast as an apprentice, but had soon developed a motor cycle and racing car of his own. The exploits of the Wright Brothers fascinated the young Harry Ferguson and during subsequent years he visited many air shows and exhibitions. Two he attended were Rhiems and Blackpool where he took measurements from the aircraft there. On his return to Belfast he persuaded his brother Joe that it would be good for their garage business to build and fly one.

Throughout 1909 construction took place, with various changes and improvements being made as work progressed. The day of the first flight attempt arrived and with wings detached and the tail resting in the back of a car the aircraft was towed through the Belfast streets up to Hillsborough Park. First efforts to get off the ground failed due to propeller trouble. It was replaced but again this and bad weather prevented attempts for nearly a week. Finally, on the 31 December 1909 Harry Ferguson's Ferguson was ready to go. A reporter from the Belfast Telegraph described the scene:

"The roar of the eight cylinders was like the sound of a Gatling gun in action. The machine was set against the wind, and all force being developed the splendid pull of the new propeller swept the big aeroplane along as Mr Ferguson advanced the lever. Presently, at the movement of the pedal, the aeroplane rose into the air at a height from nine to twelve feet, amidst the heavy cheers of the onlookers. The poise of the machine was perfect and Mr. Ferguson made a splendid flight of 130 yards." Harry Ferguson had thus made the first flight in Ireland and was the first in Great Britain to build and fly his own plane.

CHARLES LINDBERGH

Charles Augustus Lindbergh was born in Detroit on February 4, 1902, of Swedish, English, Irish and Scottish ancestry to Charles August Lindbergh, a lawyer, and Evangeline Lodge Land Lindbergh, a teacher.

At 7:52 A.M., May 20, 1927 Charles Lindbergh gunned the engine of the "Spirit of St Louis" and aimed her down the dirt runway of Roosevelt Field, Long Island. Heavily laden with fuel, the plane bounced down the muddy field, gradually became airborne and barely cleared the telephone wires at the field's edge. The crowd of 500 thought they had witnessed a miracle. Thirty-three and one half-hours and 3,500 miles later he landed in Paris, the first to fly the Atlantic alone. Lindbergh had equipped himself with four sandwiches, two canteens of water and 451 gallons of gas.

On the evening of May 21, he crossed the coast of France, followed the Seine River to Paris and touched down at Le Bourget Field at 10:22 P.M. The waiting crowd of 100,000 rushed the plane.

"The first indication of my approach to the European Coast was a small fishing boat which I first noticed a few miles ahead and slightly to the south of my course. There were several of these fishing boats grouped within a few miles of each other.

I flew over the first boat without seeing any signs of life. As I circled over the second, however, a man's face appeared, looking out of the cabin window.

I have carried on short conversations with people on the ground by flying low with throttled engine, and shouting a question, and receiving the answer by some signal. When I saw this fisherman I decided to try to get him to point towards land. I had no sooner made the decision than the futility of the effort became apparent. In all likelihood he could not speak English, and even if he could he would undoubtedly be far too astounded to answer. However, I cirded again and dosing the throttle as the plane passed within a few feet of the boat I shouted, "Which way is Ireland!" Of course the attempt was useless, and I continued on my course.

Less than an hour later a rugged and semimountainous coastline appeared to the northeast. I was flying less than two hundred feet from the water when I sighted it. The shore was fairly distinct and not over ten or fifteen miles away. A light haze coupled with numerous storm areas had prevented my seeing it from a long distance.

The coastline came down from the north and curved towards the east. I had very little doubt that it was the southwestern end of Ireland, but in order to make sure I changed my course towards the nearest point of land.

I located Cape Valencia and Dingle Bay, then resumed my compass course towards Paris."

FRANKLIN MAHONEY

Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis probably is the best known airplane in the world. The airplane's transatlantic flight brought fame to T. Claude Ryan, whose name is connected to the company that built it--Ryan Airlines, the original Ryan company. But, although the names "Ryan" and "Ryan Airlines" appeared on the plane, history has overlooked the other name closely intertwined with the legend of "Lucky Lindy" - Benjamin Franklin Mahoney, owner of Ryan Airlines.

Mahoney, born on February 8, 1901, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., had confidence in the future of commercial airlines and transoceanic crossing, and he was willing to make a commitment to those goals.

T. Claude Ryan taught Mahoney to fly. In addition to his aviation school at San Diego, Ryan ran sightseeing and charter flights. Mahoney came up with an idea for an airline. "You've got the airplanes here doing a lot of local flying," he said to Ryan. "Did you ever think about running a schedule to Los Angeles back and forth on a daily schedule basis!" Ryan had doubts. Undeterred, Mahoney pointed out that "people are more ready to accept flying than you may think." And he offered to put up the money for an airline for a share of the profits. Ryan agreed, and the Los Angeles- San Diego Air Line came into being on March 1, 1925. The fare was $14.50 one way, $22.50 round trip. It was claimed to be the first airline in the United States to operate all year on a regular schedule. On April 19, 1925, Mahoney bought a half interest in Ryan's operations--the airline, aviation school and the charter and sightseeing business--for $7,500. The two became part ners under the name Ryan Airlines. The partners discontinued the Los Angeles-San Diego Airline in September 1926 after its traffic began to decline. In its IS-month existence, the airline had a perfect safety record. Unable to agree upon a plan to raise new capital, Ryan and Mahoney terminated their partnership on November 23, 1926. Mahoney bought out Ryan for $25,000. For the time being, Mahoney continued to use the name Ryan Airlines.

Several months after Frank Mahoney became sole owner of Ryan Airlines, in early February 1927, Charles Lindbergh, an airmail pilot familiar with the good record of the M-1 with Pacific Air Transport, wired, "Can you construct Whirlwind engine plane capable flying nonstop between New York and Paris...!" Planning to compete for the Orteig Prize for the first nonstop flight between the two cities, he had approached several major aircraft manufacturers without success.

Lindbergh arrived in San Diego on February 23. He toured the factory with Mahoney and after further discussions between Mahoney and Lindbergh, Mahoney offered to build the plane for $10,580 in 60 days.

Mahoney lived up to his commitment. Working exclusively on the plane and closely with Lindbergh, the staff completed the Spirit of St. Louis 60 days after Lindbergh arrived in San Diego. In his 1927 book We, Lindbergh acknowledged the achievement of the builders with a photograph captioned "The Men Who Made Tne Plane," identifying "B. Franklin Mahoney, President, Ryan Airlines."

AMELIA EARHART

Amelia Earhart's name became a household word in 1932 when she became the first woman--and second person--to fly solo across the Atlantic, on the fifth anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's feat, flying a Lockheed Vega from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland to a field near Derry, Ireland.

"I couldn't tell whether it was a man or woman," said Dan McCallon, the Irish farmhand who witnessed Earhart's landing and grease-covered face. "But when I asked, have you flown far! 'From America.' She answered, all calm like. I was stunned and didn't know what to say." Earhart was loudly cheered in town and warmly greeted by Derry's Mayor McCorkell. That year, she received the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French Government, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society from President Hoover. In 1937, Earhart and a navigator, Fred Noonan, tried to fly around the world. On the hardest leg of the trip, their plane vanished near Howland Island in the central Pacific Ocean. No trace of Earhart, Noonan, or the plane was ever found.

DOUGLAS 'WRONG WAY' CORRIGAN

Douglas Cbrrigan became internationally famous when a supposed trip in 1938 from New York to California in his second-hand plane instead ended in Ireland. He thus earned the nickname 'Wrong Way' Corrigan. Flying in a second-hand 1929 Curtiss Robin monoplane, on July 17, 1938, Mr. Corrigan loaded 320 gallons of gasoline (enough for 40 hours) into the tiny, single engine plane. He had announced he was heading west to Long Beach, CA, but when he took off from Floyd Bennett Field, the plane's nose was heading east. He was previously denied permission to fly the Atlantic by the Department of Commerce because of the condition of his plane. Nearly 29 hours later he landed in Baldonnel near Dublin. He returned to the US a hero and the ticker tape parade for him in New York was larger than Lindbergh's.

When word flashed back to the United States about his remarkable night nobody believed his tale, and aviation experts were astounded that he had crossed the ocean in such a "crate," but the world cheered his audacity and flying skill. He was a hero who didn't look or act like one, a blithe individualist who had thumbed his nose at the authorities and at the laws of probability and gotten away with it. Not only had he flown the Atlantic without an American permit, but he had lacked permission to land at Dublin. For once, however, government officials had a sense of humor.

As Corrigan bearded an ocean liner in Ireland, for the trip home, he was handed a cablegram from the United States Department of Commerce announcing his punishment for breaking the law.

His pilot's license was suspended until August 4. That was the day the ship was due in New York. In other words, no punishment at all.

Back in the United States, Doug received the celebrity treatment-a ticker-tape parade in New York City, a meeting with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House, and a nationwide tour in the faithful old Robin. Wherever he went, his hosts gave him joke gifts. The Liars Club of Burlington, Wisconsin, elected him a member. Many cities presented him with compasses. At Tulsa, Oklahoma, an Indian tribe initiated him as Chief WrongWay, and Abilene, Texas, gave him a watch that ran backward. A shy, private man, Corrigan became a test pilot for Douglass Aircraft during World War II. He later grew oranges in Santa Monica, California, where he had lived since 1951.

JAMES MARTIN

James Martin has been variously described as a nuggety, dynamic, sandy-haired Ulsterman, Churchillian in character, with extraordinary stamina. Born in Crossgar, County Down, James grew up on a farm in that part of Ireland, among people of sturdy independence. From a very early age, James Martin displayed exceptional powers of inventiveness and, while still in his teens, had designed, made and sold a wide variety of machines. His farmer father had died while Sir James was still an infant and his mother, wishing him to have a university education, took him to see a professor of engineering at Belfast's Queens University. Sir James's recollection of the interview is that, after interrogation and discussion, the professor and he decided it would be wise and to their mutual benefit to terminate their acquaintanceship at this early stage. James Martin had no wish to spend time in university lecture rooms and laboratories when he knew he could be outside designing and making things.

After setting up an aircraft company with Captain Valentine Baker, the Martin Baker Aircraft Company Ltd., the pair built a number of unsuccessful aircraft during WWII. In 1944 James Martin was invited by the then Ministry of Aircraft Production, to investigate the practicability of providing fighter aircraft with a means of assisted escape for the pilot.

Martin and Baker turned their energies toward developing an ejector seat for aircraft.

The first dummy shot with the seat loaded to 2001b was made on 20thJanuary 1945 when a Mr. Bernard Lynch undertook the first "live" ride on a rig, which was 4 feet 8 inches high. On the 10th. May, 1945, the first test was carried out in an aircraft using the seat loaded with sand bags. It was successfully ejected from the aircraft and then the next day a dummy was ejected successfully. This was the first ejection from a aircraft in flight in Great Britain. The first human to eject from a moving aircraft was Bernard Lynch on the 24th July at 320mph at 800 feet. The whole system worked well and Lynch made a safe landing thus earning him the respect of pilots all over the world.

Martin-Baker is the World's longest established and most experienced manufacturer of ejection seats and related equipment that safeguards the aviator throughout the escape, survival, location and recovery phases. The company is still the largest supplier of ejection seats worldwide having delivered over 69,000 seats to 90 Air Forces. More than 19,000 Martin-Baker seats remain in service, (some for over 40 years). To date Martin-Baker seats have saved the lives of over 7,000 aircrew in 90 Air Forces with some 3,500 df these being U.S. pilots. (Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited)

AER LINGUS

Aer Lingus is an Anglicization of the Irish 'Aer Loingeas" which means Air Fleet. Founded in April 1936, Aer Lingus operated its first flight when the then hi-tech de Havilland Dragon, took off from Dublin for Bristol with a full load of five passengers. The date was May 27.

From day one Aer Lingus developed a reputation for friendliness and service - qualities with which they have become synonymous and which have won the airline countless accolades over the years.

Following the War, Aer Lingus set about rapidly expanding its British and European networks. By the early '50s Aer Lingus had spread their wings into Europe with Paris, Amsterdam and Lourdes. The late 1950's saw Aer Lingus turn its attention to the West and in 1958 inaugurated their first transatlantic service to New York and Boston with Constellation aircraft. Over the next two and a half decades, Aer Lingus continued to develop its routes and schedules in Britain, the United States and Continental Europe.

Today Aer Lingus, with one of the youngest fleets of any European airline, flies 15,000 passengers on 180 flights a day to and from more than 30 destinations across Ireland, Britain, Continental Europe and the USA. With a dedicated staff, committed to the highest standards of customer service and a wide range of destinations and fares, Aer Lingus is excellently positioned to develop and grow well into the next century.

NEIL ARMSTRONG

The first mannedjourney to the Moon began at Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida with the liftoff of Apollo 11 at 9:32 a.m. EDT on July 16, 1969.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." At 10:56 pm EDT onJuly 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the Moon. Armstrong can trace his ancestry to County Fermanagh.

MICHAEL COLLINS

Michael Collins was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. He served as pilot on the 3-day Gemini 10 mission, launched July 18, 1966, during which he set a world altitude record and became the nation's third spacewalker completing two extravehicular activities (EVAs). His second flight was as command module pilot of the historic Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. He remained in lunar orbit while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the Moon. Upon leaving NASA in January 1970, Collins became Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

In April 1971, Collins joined the Smithsonian Institution as Director of the National Air and Space Museum, where he remained for 7 years. He was responsible for planning and construction of the new museum building, which opened to the public in July 1976, a few days ahead of schedule and below its budgeted cost. In April 1978, Collins became Undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

DR. JAMES G. ROCHE

Dr. James G. Roche is the 20th Secretary of the United States Air Force. In this role, he is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping, and providing for the welfare of its nearly 370,000 men and women on active duty, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. As head of the Department of the Air Force, Secretary Roche is responsible for its functioning and efficiency, the formulation of its policies and programs, and the timely implementation of decisions and instructions of the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. With an annual budget of approximately 590 billion, he ensures the Air Force can meet its current and future operational requirements.

Prior to this appointment, Secretary Roche held several executive positions with Northrop Grumman Corp., including Corporate Vice President and President, Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in 1984, he was Democratic Staff Director of the US. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Secretary Roche's previous military service spanned 23 years in the US. Navy, retiring with the rank of captain in 1983. As a naval officer, his assignments included Principal Deputy Director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff; Senior Professional Staff Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and Assistant Director for the Defense Department's Office of Net Assessment. He commanded the USS Buchanan, a guided missile destroyer, and was awarded the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for the Navy's most improved combat unit in the Pacific in 1974.

Secretary Roche has served as a member of the Secretary of Defense's Policy Board and is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and the International Institute of Strategic Studies. Dr. Roche has been awarded various campaign ribbons and military medals. (U.S.A.E)

EILEEN COLLINS

On her last mission, Eileen Collins became the first (and currently only) female Shuttle commander. On her next, she will command the historic STS-114 "Return to Flight" mission, the first after the Columbia tragedy.

Selected by NASA in January 1990, Collins became an astronaut in July 1991. Initially assited to Orbiter engineering support, Collins has also served on the astronaut support team responsible for Orbiter prelaunch checkout, final launch configuration, crew ingress/egress, landing/recovery, worked in Mission Control as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM), served as the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems Branch Chief, Chief Information Officer, Shuttle Branch Chief, and Astronaut Safety Branch Chief. A veteran of three space nights, Collins has logged over 537 hours in space. She served as pilot on STS-63 (February 3-11, 1995) and STS-84 (May 15-24, 1997), and was the commander on STS-93 (July 22-27, 1999). Collins is assigned Crew Commander on STS-114.

During this Return To might mission the crew will test and evaluate new procedures for flight safety and Shuttle inspection and repair techniques. The mission is planned for launch no earlier than September 2004.(NASA)

SEAN O'KEEFE

Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, Sean O'Keefe was appointed by the President as the 10th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on December 21, 2001. As Administrator, O'Keefe leads the NASA team and manages its resources, as NASA seeks to advance exploration and discovery in aeronautics and space technologies.

O'Keefe joined the Bush Administration on inauguration day and served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Deputy Assistant to the President until December 2001, overseeing the preparation, management and administration of the Federal budget and government wide-management initiatives across the Executive Branch.

Prior to joining the Bush Administration, O'Keefe was the Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy, an endowed chair at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He also served as the Director of National Security Studies, a partnership of Syracuse University and Johns Hopkins University, for delivery of executive education programs for senior military and civilian Department of Defense managers. Appointed to these positions in 1996, he was previously Professor of Business Administration and Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at the Pennsylvania State University.

Appointed as the Secretary of the Navy in July 1992 by President George Bush, O'Keefe previously served as Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Defense since 1989. Before joining Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's Pentagon manage ment team in these capacities, he served on the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations staff for eight years, and was Staff Director of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. His public service began in 1978 upon selection as a Presidential Management Intern.

In 1993, President Bush and Secretary Cheney presented him the Distinguished Public Service Award. He was also the recipient of the Department of the Navy's Public Service Award in December 2000.

Sean O'Keefe earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1977 from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and his Master of Public Administration degree in 1978 from The Maxwell School. His wife Laura and children Lindsey, Jonathan and Kevin, reside in northern Virginia. (NASA)