America 250: The Air & Space Power Story

Texas | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 28

This week we visit Texas! The Lone Star State has played a huge role in advancing American airpower and spacepower. It is a long-standing center for airmen training, going all the way back to World War I, and Texans have built numerous Air Force aircraft--including the B-24, P-51, B-36, F-111, F-16, CV-22, and F-35. On the space side, Houston is the home of Johnson Space Center, which is the home for mission control for numerous NASA missions. It also houses one of the best space museums in the nation.

Florida | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 27

This week we visit Florida! Famous for being the home of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, Florida’s Space Coast was the launch site of numerous missions, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. NASA’s Artemis missions and the Space Force continue to use Florida’s launch facilities. On the air side, Pan Am launched operations in Key West during 1927 and would go on to redefine the notion of air travel--literally opening up vast sections of the world thanks to the reach afforded by air.

Michigan | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 26

This week we visit Michigan! The Great Lakes State—famous for being a center of automobile manufacturing—was also an important hub of aircraft production during World War II. The Ford Motor Company built B-24 Liberators at their Willow Run plant, producing a bomber every hour at its peak in 1944. On the space side, the Michigan Ordnance Missile Plant was a production site for Redstone rockets. The state is also the home of 13 astronauts, including Christina Koch, who was part of the Artemis II crew and became the first woman to leave Earth orbit.

Arkansas | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 25

This week we visit Arkansas! The “Natural State” was the home of Louise Thaden, a pioneering female aviator who set multiple flying records, including the women’s altitude record in 1928, plus records for speed and endurance in 1929. Those flying into Bentonville, AR will take off and land at Thaden Field. On the space side, Arkansas suppliers provide important components for NASA’s Artemis program.

Missouri | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 24

This week we visit Missouri! The "Show Me State" is a long-standing center of air and space power industrial production. The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation—founded in St Louis during 1939—built the Mercury and Gemini capsules for NASA, as well as iconic aircraft like the F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle. This production facility is alive and well as part of Boeing.