Eldon W. Joersz
Eldon W Joersz officially became the fastest man in the world when he flew his US Air Force Blackbird plane at an astonishing 3,529.56km/h (2,194 mph) on 28 July 1976.
The record was set flying from an airbase in Southern California. Along with reconnaissance systems officer George Morgan, Joersz hit an incredible 3,529.56km/h (2,193.64mph) over a steady 25km straight-line course.
Covering almost 1km every second, and at 80,600ft, the pair flew at Mach 3.3 above Edwards Air Force Base. They were flying the legendary SR-71 Lockheed Blackbird, a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft operated by the US Air Force for three decades.
Flying three times faster than sound and with an engine temperature approaching 427-degrees Celsius, Joersz and Morgan had to fly a straight-line 25km-long course. Their speed was measured by highly sophisticated radar.
Once through the box, they had to turn and complete another run through the box at the same altitude. The average of the two speeds was taken, and that was the record speed.
Speaking from his home near Dallas in 2016 in the week before the 40th anniversary of the flight, General Joersz (retired), said: “After we went through the second time, control came up and said, 'Unofficially, the record is 2,194mph’. They knew what it was right away."
Inside the cockpit they were elated – although a little disappointed they hadn’t gone even faster.
“Our informal goal between the two of us was for 2,200 mph. So actually, we were quietly a little disappointed that we'd missed it by 7 mph!”
At the time however, Joersz had no idea his morning’s work would still be of interest more than forty years later.
“Truthfully, for us at the time it was just a fun thing to do. We just felt really fortunate to be the guys getting to fly the airplane.”
During his career in the United States Air Force, Joersz held several positions, including instructor; pilot during the Vietnam War; and Wing Commander. His awards include the Defence Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Defence Meritorious Service Medal.
Joersz began his education in Hazen, North Dakota. From there, he graduated from North Dakota State University in 1966 with an ROTC commission and received his master's degree from Auburn University in 1978. He retired from the US Air Force in 1997.
Charles A. Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh was the first pilot to fly solo from New York to Paris. He completed the flight over two days, 20/21 May 1927.
In doing so he set an FAI World Record for ‘Distance in a straight-line without landing’. He flew a specially-built Ryan Monoplane, the Spirit of St Louis, 5,809km, and completed the flight in 33hr30mins.
He flew alone, through the night, navigating only by the compass, stars and dead reckoning.
Taking off from Roosevelt Field near New York early on Friday 20 May 1927, he was loaded down with 1,704 litres of fuel. His plane climbed slowly into the air, clearing the telephone lines at the end by a mere six metres.
From there he headed east, flying as high as 3,000m to clear storm clouds, and as low as 3m, skimming across the wave tops. He flew part of the flight blind through fog for several hours.
When he landed at Le Bourget Airport 10km northeast of Paris at 10.22pm on Saturday 21 May 1927 he was greeted by a crowd of 150,000 people.
The 25-year-old former barnstormer pilot became an international celebrity overnight, and was feted around the world. He received the French Legion d’Honneur and was awarded the USA’s Distinguished Flying Cross.
Lindbergh’s flight was ratified by the FAI, the World Air Sports Federation, which was then 22 years old.
Lindbergh went on to tour the world telling his story of his Atlantic flight. In his later years he became a prolific prize-winning author, international explorer, inventor, and environmentalist
He died on 26 August 1974, aged 72.
GaYeon Mo
Korean FAI Drone Racing World Cup pilot GaYeon Mo may have only started flying drones in 2016 - but she’s aiming for the top of the podium.
Born in 1999, this dedicated young girl is one of the few female pilots to have attained the level necessary to take on the top flight of competitors in this new and exciting airsport.
“I started flying drones in July 2016,” she says. “I was a bit hesitant at first, because I have always wanted to try airsports, but I was not sure if I could do well as a girl.
“However, the speed of the sport attracted me, and I wanted to challenge myself to do something new.”
Mo, who was introduced to drone racing by her martial arts instructor, says her years of Taekwondo and Wushu training showed her she could succeed in a male-dominated sport.
“The director at the Wushu training centre where I practice martial arts helped me to start drone racing,” she says.
“Learning and practicing Taekwondo and Wushu with boys since childhood has taught me that I can hold my own against male competitors.
“So when I learned that there were two areas, racing and drone, I chose racing where female pilots were rare.”
She believes female drone racers may have a natural advantage over their male counterparts.
“Drone racing requires you to undertake delicate manoeuvres while travelling at high speed, which can be easier for female pilots than for male competitors,” Mo says.
“So I hope to see many more women getting involved in the sport in the future.”
As for herself, she has not looked back since taking part in the 2016 ChunCheon Drone Race World Cup in Korea: her first competitive drone racing event.
“Since then, I have taken part in many other races held in Changwon, Ansan, Osan and other cities in Korea,” Mo adds.
“I have not yet climbed onto the podium to collect a prize, but I am working hard on my training because I believe that practice makes perfect.
“My goal is to participate in as many races as possible to get more experience and perform better, so that I can achieve my dream of becoming the first ever female pilot to take first place in an event.”
Fedor Konyukhov
Fedor Konyukhov was awarded the FAI-Breitling Pilot of the Year Award 2016 for flying a balloon solo around the world.
Born in the village of Chkalovo in south east Ukraine on 12 December 1951 his father was a fisherman on the Sea of Azov. As a youngster he attended a nautical school in Odessa and became a specialist in polar navigation, subsequently working as a navigator and marine engineer.
He spent three years in the Soviet Navy as a Marine before studying for an art degree. He has worked as a professional artist ever since, becoming the youngest then member of the USSR's Union of Artists in 1983. He also studied for the priesthood and is an ordained priest in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Moscow.
In the 1990s he took up mountaineering and set his sights on competing the Seven Summits – climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Between 1992 and 1997 he climbed Mount Elbrus, Everest, Mount Vinson, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Kosciusko (Australia) and Denali.
He climbed Everest again in May 2012, to mark the 20th anniversary of his first ascent.
His ascent into the world of ballooning royalty and the exclusive club of round-the-world balloonists was swift. He only had 250 hours flying gas and hot air balloons before setting off from Australia on 12 July 2016 to fly solo around the world. He then spent the next 11 days in a closed capsule little bigger than a bath tub.
His route took him east, across Australia, out towards New Zealand, and over the Pacific.
Hitting the coast of South America he soared over the summit of Aconcagua, at nearly 7,000m the highest mountain on that continent.
His journey then took him on into the Atlantic, where he battled through thunderstorms, racing along at 200km/h at heights of up to 10,500m.
From there, he crossed the Indian Ocean – and it was here, in a thunderstorm, that he genuinely felt afraid for his life, as he feared the balloon would be destroyed. He followed a deep, circuitous airflow that took him in a loop to 60-degrees south, where below he could see icebergs in the sea.
Finally turning back north, and after spending 268 hours and 20 minutes in the air alone, he touched down almost where he had launched from – back near the town of Northam in Western Australia.
He had covered 33,521km around the world, and beaten the previous record – set by Steve Fossett in 2002 – by 52 hours and 13 minutes.
Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA on 5 August 1930. He began his NASA career in Ohio, and after serving as a naval aviator from 1949 to 1952, Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1955.
Over the next 17 years, he was an engineer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator for NACA and its successor agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
As a research pilot at NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, he was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the well known, 4,000-mph X-15. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders.
Armstrong transferred to astronaut status in 1962. He was assigned as command pilot for the Gemini 8 mission. Gemini 8 was launched on 16 March 1966, and Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.
As spacecraft commander for Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, Armstrong gained the distinction of being the first man to land a craft on the moon and first to step on its surface.
Armstrong subsequently held the position of Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. In this position, he was responsible for the coordination and management of overall NASA research and technology work related to aeronautics.
He was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati between 1971-1979. During the years 1982-1992, Armstrong was chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia.
He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California. He held honorary doctorates from a number of universities.
Armstrong was a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Royal Aeronautical Society; Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the International Astronautics Federation.
He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. He served as a member of the National Commission on Space (1985-1986), as Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (1986), and as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Peace Corps (1971-1973).
Armstrong was decorated by 17 countries. He was the recipient of many special honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal; the Congressional Space Medal of Honor; the Explorers Club Medal; the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy; the NASA Distinguished Service Medal; the Harmon International Aviation Trophy; the Royal Geographic Society's Gold Medal; the Federation Aeronautique Internationale's Gold Space Medal; the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award; the Robert J. Collier Trophy; the AIAA Astronautics Award; the Octave Chanute Award; and the John J. Montgomery Award.
Armstrong passed away on 25 August 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He was 82.
Career highlights
First man on the moon
Words: NASA, July 2015