Aviation in North Dakota

Aviation in North Dakota takes place around the state's 89 public airfields, including 8 commercial airports. Notable North Dakota aviators include Carl Ben Eielson, Bruce Peterson, and James Buchli.

North Dakota's first aeronautical event was the flight of a Wright Model B on July 19, 1910 at the Grand Forks Air Meet flown by Wright Exhibition Team member Archibald Hoxsey.^[1]

Lucky Bob and a drawing of his airplane, 1911.

Events

A Wright Model B on display

• June 9, 1911 a Curtiss Biplane named "Sweetheart" flew at the Fargo Fairgrounds before an audience of 12,000 spectators piloted by Robert "Lucky Bob" St. Henry^[2]
• July 12, 1911 Thomas McGoey flies the first North Dakota designed and built aircraft, the Kenworthy-McGoey flying machine at Grand Forks.^[3]
• July 1916 Bismarck, North Dakota has its first flight.^[4]
• 1928 North Dakota native Carl Ben Eielson, along with Hubert Wilkins become the first men to fly across the Arctic Ocean.^[5]
• 1990 Three crew members of a Northwest Airlines flight are sentenced to jail for flying while drunk from Fargo to Minneapolis.^[6]

Aerospace Industry

Aircraft Manufacturers

• Cirrus Aircraft, Grand Forks, North Dakota^[7]
• 1911-1911 Kenworthy-McGoey Aviation Company. Founded to produce and demonstrate aircraft.^[8]
• The Boughton Flying Machine Corporation lost its prototype in 1916.^[9]

Components

• Northrop Grumman, New Town, North Dakota^[10]
• Goodrich Corporation, Jamestown, North Dakota^[11]
• Ideal Aerosmith, Grand Forks, North Dakota^[12]
• Appareo Systems, Fargo, North Dakota^[13]

Flight Schools

• The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota is one of the largest civilian flight training operations in the country.

Airports

• List of airports in North Dakota

Commercial Service

• Bismarck Municipal Airport started operation in 1916, and had over 190,000 operations in 2010.
• Hector International Airport, Fargo
• Grand Forks International Airport
• Sloulin Field International Airport
• Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport
• Minot International Airport
• Devils Lake Regional Airport
• Jamestown Regional Airport

People

• Fargo Born James Buchli flew aboard four Space Shuttle Missions

Organizations

• The North Dakota Aviation Council comprises six organizations promoting aviation in North Dakota.^[14]

Government and Military

• All flight operations in North Dakota are conducted within FAA oversight.
• The North Dakota Air National Guard was activated on 16 January 1947 with the formation of the 178th Fighter squadron, 178th utility flight, 178th weather station, and detachment B of the 233rd Air service group.^[15]

Museums

• Bonanzaville, USA Eagles hangar features a range of aircraft.
• The Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot was founded in 1986.
• The Fargo Air Museum in Fargo, features flying examples of World War II aircraft.

Gallery

• 

  Grand Forks Airport

• 

  Fargo Air Museum's Duggy

References