Volunteers Needed!
The Aviation Museum of NH needs docents to help guide visitors on museum tours. If you have four hours on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, we'd like to hear from you. Aviation experience is helpful, but not necessary. Training will be provided. Contact us
by phone at (603) 669-4820 or .
Thank you!
PO Box 3653
Concord, NH 03302-3653
603-669-4820
Toll Free 1-866-423-7662
New Hampshire Aviation Event Timeline
New Hampshire has a rich aviation history. Here are a few notable Granite Staters: Thaddeus Lowe, the pioneering Civil War balloonist, from Coos County; the Granville brothers from Madison, who designed and manufactured a series of 1930's racing planes called GeeBees that are among the most famous aircraft in aviation history; Alan Shephard, from Derry, the first man in space; and the first civilian in space, Christa McCauliffe, a teacher at Concord High School.
Here is a timeline with highlights from New Hampshire aviation history.
| Date | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| 1850 | Balloonist Eugene Goddard made an ascension over Manchester on the back of a horse. |
| 1860 | Thaddeous S.C. Lowe flew balloons for the Union Army during the American Civil War. |
| 1903 | The Wright Brothers make the first flight. |
| 1910 | The first flight in New Hampshire at the Rochester Fair. |
| 1911 | June 19, 1911 Harry Atwood flew a Burgess-Wright bi-plane from Waltham, MA to Nashua, Manchester and Concord. |
| 1913 | Miss Ruth Bancroft Law, world's record for an Aviatrix. 5,500 feet made daily flights at the Rochester Fair. |
| 1917 | Lt. Thomas E.P. Rice of Meredith instructs French & American pilots in combat flying. |
| 1918 |
New Hampshire sends one hundred and seventy six aviators to serve in World War l. Wylie Apte Sr. of Conway flew at the front in France. Walter Armory of Walpole was shot down while searching for a friend behind German Lines. William H. Cheny of Peterborough St. Lt. A.S. , SORC first American to win the Italian military Flying Beret. Willis D. Thompson Jr. of Concord served in the Naval Air Corps, France. Robert S. Fogg became the instructor of advances flying and aerobatics in the U.S. Signal Corps. |
| 1919 | May Lt. Albert Cushing Read of Lyme was named to command NC-4 on the first transatlantic flight. |
| 1920 | July 4, 1920. Robert C. Fogg becomes the first resident of NH to own an airplane and lands in Concord in his Canadian WW I "Jenny." Robert C. Fogg opens the first fixed base operation in NH at the National Guard Muster Grounds in Concord. A local aviation committee in Concord is formed to raise money to purchase and "aviation field." The state's first airport was developed at the State Muster Grounds on the Merrimack River in Concord. |
| 1923 | The Balsams Resort Hotel becomes the first corporate aircraft owner flying three Curtiss Orioles from Garden City to Dixville Notch delivering fresh fish, fresh cut flowers and newspapers from Boston, New York and Philadelphia in time for breakfast. Robert C. Fogg establishes Winnipesaukee Aire Service, Inc. sea plane base at the Weirs and was granted the country's first RFD airmail service contract. |
| 1926 | Concord Airport Corporation is formed and petitions state legislature and effective council for use of property for Concord airport. |
| 1927 |
July 25, 1927 Charles Lindbergh lands at Concord in the Spirit of St. Louis on his U.S. tour. Aug 2, 1927 Manchester Mayor and aldermen approve $15,000 loan for the construction of MHT. October, Board of Recreation and Aviation is formed in Manchester. The first passenger airplane lands at MHT -- Bob Fogg pilot, James O'Neil passenger. |
| 1928 | Asahel Putnam forms the NH Aviation and Marine CO. In Keene. Lee D. Bowman starts flight operations at Twin Mountain. Russell Hilliard launched the first scheduled air service in the state with his partner E.L. Gadbois First hangar at Concord is built. >Northeast Airways makes the first round trip flight from Concord to Manchester to Boston. |
| 1929 | Lillian Putnam becomes the first female licensed pilot in NH. Bernice Blake becomes the first female licensed commercial pilot in NH. NH State Legislature passes the Federal Air Commerce Act and the right of municipalities to take land needed for airports by eminent domain and to register aircraft and airmen. The NH Public Service Commission is empowered with regulating aeronautics. |
| 1930 | August 1, 1930 Public Service Commission records the first number of airmen and aircraft in NH totaling 55 pilots and 48 aircraft.
Russell Hilliard is instructing aeronautics at UNH. |
| 1931 | NH State Legislature requires that all landing fields used for commercial operations be registered. 24 airports are registered in the state. |
| 1932 | Pete Goldsmith opens a FBO at Manchester. |
| 1933 | Amelia Earhart lands in Manchester. The first state airport engineer Russell Hilliard is hired the guide the development of airports. |
| 1934 | Nashua establishes an aviation commission and Construction begins for Nashua airport. Ten municipal airports were funded under the ERA and CWA programs. Jan 1934 Laconia dedicates funds for the purchase of an airfield on Belknap county farmland. |
| 1936 | Aviation Syndicate of Concord sell the land to the City. |
| 1937 | Construction of the present Concord Airport facility begins. Site is chosen by the State to construct an airfield in Lebanon. |
| 1938 | First national celebration of Air Mail. |
| 1939 | NH State Legislature passes the Aeronautics Act expanding the work of the engineer of Public Works Division. Concord, Nashua and Manchester have paved runways and considered safe for commercial use. Russell Hilliard becomes ground instructor for the CPT program at St. Anselm's College in Manchester. |
| 1940 | Lee Bowman opens a FBO at Keene. October 3, 1940 The War Dept names Manchester Municipal Airport as an Army Air Corps Base. |
| 1941 | Jan 1, 1941 civilian operations cease as the U.S. Army Air Corps takes over MHT. Jan 1941 construction of Laconia Airport begins. May 1941 the first enlisted men arrive at Manchester. Dec. 6, 1941 the first squadron of A-20 attack aircraft arrive at Manchester. The General Court establishes the NH Aeronautics Commission to direct the progress of aviation and interest airlines in providing scheduled passenger service. Winter: Air Force B-18 crashes on Mount Waternomee. |
| 1942 | Jan 2, 1942 Alma Gallagher solos at Laconia airfield. Jan 23, 1942, Manchester Airport is renamed Grenier Field by the War Department. Aug 4, 1942 Bill Champlain moves his FBO from Portsmouth to Skyhaven. Lebanon votes to purchase 750 acres of land for $26,900 to construct an airport. Construction of Keene Airport begins. |
| 1943 | Concord terminal building housing FAA Flight Service and the National Weather Service was constructed. Nashua airport is re-dedicated and named Boire Field in honor of Ensign Paul Boire first Nashua casualty in WWII. November Keene airport is officially opened. |
| 1944 | Lee Bowman moves his FBO to Keene Airport. |
| 1945 | Hampton Airfield opens. Skyhaven Airfield in Rochester opens. |
| 1946 | Richard Putnam of Hanover forms Dartmouth Airways and offers charter flights from Lebanon airport. Berlin Airport provides services in the area north of Mt. Washington. Northeast Airlines provides the first scheduled service from Berlin. NH Air National Guard is established. Daniel Webster Airways in Merrimack is incorporated. |
| 1947 | Cooney Atherton becomes the first FBO at Lebanon Airport. Betty Condict operated the Bass Point Seaplane Base on Blaisdell Lane with Lillian Putnam as the flight instructor. Hooksett Airfield opens. |
| 1952 | May 1952, House Armed Services Committee approved construction of Portsmouth Air Force Base in the city of Portsmouth and the town of Newington. |
| 1953 | Jan 6, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, Chairman of Eastern Airways and World War II Veteran aviator, sent snow gathered from the mountains of New Hampshire to the Capital island of San Juan to give children there a "White Christmas." May: Eight jet fighters salute the Convocation of UNH at Durham with a fly by. |
| 1954 | A new world helicopter altitude record of 24,000 ft. set by the XH-39 Sikorsky helicopter, piloted by Warrant Officer, Billy W.O. Webster. A new helicopter speed record is also set by the same pilot at 156.05 mph in August, 1954 Dec. 1, 1954 Northeast Airlines DC-3 crashes on approach to Berlin. |
| 1955 | Shirley Mahn comes to Whitefield to set up a FBO and become the airport manager. |
| 1956 | June 30, 1956 Portsmouth Air Force Base officially opens. The 100th BMW arrives at Portsmouth Air Force Base. |
| 1957 | Lebanon Municipal Airport is rated the "Busiest" in NH for passenger travel. The Aviation Association of NH is founded in Concord. |
| 1958 | September 7, 1958 Portsmouth Air Force base is renamed Pease Air Force Base in honor of Capt. Harl Pease, JR. December 1958: the 509th Bombardment Wing arrives at Pease Air Force Base. |
| 1959 | NH General Court passes legislation creating the Lebanon Regional Airport Authority. NH State Legislature established the Manchester Airport Authority to operate the facility as a civilian airport. Feb 21, 1959 three physicians are killed in a crash at Berlin on their way to visit a patient. |
| 1960 | Winnipesaukee Aviation launches scheduled commuter service to Boston. Aug. 19, 1960 Doc Martin dies in a crash on Mr. Kearsarge. |
| 1961 | Nashua Airport Authority is established. December Roscoe Ammon Terminal is opened at MHT. Alan Shepard from Derry becomes the first American in space. |
| 1962 | Roger Crowley becomes the second director of NH Aeronautics Commission. Judge Kenneth McLaughlin of Nashua founds Hawthorne College in Antrim to become the first college in NH offering coursed in aeronautics. |
| 1963 | March 31, 1963 The Boston Air Traffic Control Center is opened in Nashua. |
| 1965 | New England Aeronautical Institute is founded on Nashua Airport. |
| 1966 | NH Air National Guard moves from Manchester to Pease Air Force Base. |
| 1968 | John Sweeney becomes the third director of NH Aeronautics Commission Aug. 25, 1968 the worst disaster in NH aviation history: Northeast Airlines Yellowbird FH-227 crashed on Moose Mountain killing 32 people. |
| 1970 | NH State Legislature enacts The Airports and Airways Development Act; The Air service Deregulation Act authored by John Sweeney, director of the NH Aeronautics Commission. NH State Legislature creates the Department of Transportation and the Division of Aeronautics to serve as a liaison between those involved in aviation and the D.O.T. |
| 1971 | International convention of the Ninety Nines is held at Bretton Woods. |
| 1972 | Nashua tower is constructed and dedicated to Nicholas Tamposi |
| 1975 | March 5, 1975 Mary "Babs" Nutt of Etna sets a world record reaching an altitude of 35,463 feet over Pike's Peak in her multi-place Schweizer 2-32. |
| 1978 | Daniel Webster Junior College and New England Aeronautical Institute merge to become Daniel Webster College offering bachelor of science degrees in aeronautics. |
| 1981 | August 31, 1981 - 263 of the 318 air traffic control agents strike at Nashua Boston Center. |
| 1984 | Christa McAulliffe from Concord was chosen to become the first teacher in space. Production of the Great Lakes is attempted in Claremont |
| 1985 | New Maintenance hangar is constructed at Nashua and dedicated to Kenneth C. Howe. |
| 1990 | June 1, 1990 NH State Legislature passed law creating the Pease Development Authority. |
| 1991 | March 31, 1991 Pease Air Force Base is scheduled to close |
| 1993 | MHT new terminal is built. October Lt. Col. Richard Searfoss pilots the space shuttle Columbia. |