Aviation in North Dakota
Aviation in the United States
North Dakota State Flag
Airports
Commercial – primary	5
Commercial – non-primary	3
General aviation	45
Other public-use airports	37
Military and other airports	2
First flight
19 July 1910

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

• 

  North Dakota air route of 1925
  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

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

People

• James Buchli, born in Fargo, 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

Notes

References