Aviation in North Dakota

Aviation in North Dakota takes place around the state's 89 public airfields, including 8 commercial airports. Notable North Dakota aviators include Carl Ben Eielson, Bruce Peterson, and James Buchli.

North Dakota's first aeronautical event was the flight of a Wright Model B on July 19, 1910, at the Grand Forks Air Meet flown by Wright Exhibition Team member Archibald Hoxsey.



Events

 * Western Canada, Washington, Montana, and Washington 1925 Air Routes.jpg 9, 1911, a Curtiss Biplane named "Sweetheart" flew at the Fargo Fairgrounds before an audience of 12,000 spectators piloted by Robert "Lucky Bob" St. Henry
 * July 12, 1911 Thomas McGoey flies the first North Dakota designed and built aircraft, the Kenworthy-McGoey flying machine at Grand Forks.
 * July 1916 Bismarck, North Dakota, has its first flight.
 * 1928 North Dakota native Carl Ben Eielson, along with Hubert Wilkins become the first men to fly across the Arctic Ocean.
 * 1990 Three crew members of a Northwest Airlines flight are sentenced to jail for flying while drunk from Fargo to Minneapolis.

Aircraft Manufacturers

 * Cirrus Aircraft, Grand Forks, North Dakota
 * 1911-1911 Kenworthy-McGoey Aviation Company. Founded to produce and demonstrate aircraft.
 * The Boughton Flying Machine Corporation lost its prototype in 1916.

Components

 * Northrop Grumman, New Town, North Dakota
 * Goodrich Corporation, Jamestown, North Dakota
 * Ideal Aerosmith, Grand Forks, North Dakota
 * Appareo Systems, Fargo, North Dakota

Flight Schools

 * The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota is one of the largest civilian flight training operations in the country.

Airports

 * List of airports in North Dakota

Commercial Service

 * Bismarck Municipal Airport
 * Hector International Airport, Fargo
 * Grand Forks International Airport
 * Williston Basin International Airport
 * Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport
 * Minot International Airport
 * Devils Lake Regional Airport
 * Jamestown Regional Airport

People

 * James Buchli, born in Fargo, flew aboard four Space Shuttle missions.

Organizations

 * The North Dakota Aviation Council comprises six organizations promoting aviation in North Dakota.

Government and Military

 * All flight operations in North Dakota are conducted within FAA oversight.
 * The North Dakota Air National Guard was activated on 16 January 1947 with the formation of the 178th Fighter squadron, 178th utility flight, 178th weather station, and detachment B of the 233rd Air service group.

Museums

 * Bonanzaville, USA Eagles hangar features a range of aircraft.
 * The Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot was founded in 1986.
 * The Fargo Air Museum in Fargo, features flying examples of World War II aircraft.