A Girl’s Guide to the History of the Homebuilt Airplane From Pietenpol to VanGrunsven

Lessons Learned During a Field Trip to the Cyber-Museum of Aviation

I grew up a girl.

Charlotte and her birthday doll

Charlotte, while growing up a girl

So since I became a pilot and joined the aviation world I often feel several paces behind my mates when the inevitable conversations about airplanes begin. I mean these guys can remember every detail of every airplane EVER manufactured. And I am like, “Well, the 152…” Because I trained in the Cessna 152 it’s really the only airplane I can speak about. That doesn’t leave many conversations I can participate in.

That needed to change. Continue reading