Our love of aerospace and aviation isn’t really a new phenomenon – it’s as big a part of our Oklahoma DNA as football or the land run. While Oklahoma has had many famous pilots they all trace back to Oklahoma native Wiley Post. Post became an international superstar when he made the first solo flight around the world in 1933. Post also developed the first pressure suit, allowing him to fly his famous plane, the Winnie Mae, into the stratosphere.
What some people don’t know about Post is the he didn’t begin his aviation career as a pilot. He actually started out as a parachutist in a flying circus! An oilfield injury that caused him to lose his left eye, but gave him a rad eye patch, brought an $1,800 settlement that he used to buy his first plane.
To honor the aviation giant, Oklahoma City named an airport in NW Oklahoma City in recognition.
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