Aviation’s early days were full of risk, invention, and unshakable resolve. These photos of pioneering pilots and aviators in the cockpit capture trailblazing aviators in the moments before their last flights, some legendary, others tragically final. Each image tells a story of ambition, courage, and the human drive to touch the sky.
1. Amelia Earhart, 1937
This photo of Amelia Earhart in her Lockheed Electra was taken just before she and navigator Fred Noonan took off from Lae, New Guinea. It would be the last leg of her attempt to circumnavigate the Globe, one that ended in one of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time.
2. Charles Lindbergh, 1930s
This unique perspective shot shows Lindbergh experiencing a quiet moment in the cockpit years after his historic solo flight across the Atlantic. Though no longer chasing records, he remained active in promoting aviation and influencing its development.
3. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1944
Best known for The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry was also a wartime pilot. This photo was taken before his final reconnaissance mission over the Mediterranean, from which he never returned.
4. Howard Hughes, 1946
Seen in his cockpit of the XF-11, Hughes was preparing for a test flight. The crash that followed nearly killed him, but he survived, badly injured and forever changed.
5. Bessie Coleman, 1926
America´s first licensed Black female pilot, Bessie Coleman, is shown preparing for a test flight in Florida. Moments later, a mechanical failure caused a fatal accident that ended her groundbreaking career.
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6. Richard Bong, 1945
Decorated WWII fighter ace Richard Bong poses beside a Lockheed P-80 jet. He died during a test flight, only hours after his name was announced in wartime headlines as a national hero.
7. Wiley Post, 1935
The post is photographed inside his floatplane in Alaska. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, ending his life and his mate´s.
7. Harriet Quimby, 1912
America´s first female licensed pilot, Quimby, was photographed before an exhibition flight in Massachusetts. Tragically, she was ejected from her aircraft midair due to a sudden pitch.
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8. Steve Fossett, 2007
This image shows Fossett in his single-engine plane just before takeoff over the Nevada desert. He vanished without a trace, sparking one of the largest private search efforts in U.S. history.
9. Roscoe Turner, 1939
Known for his flamboyant persona and racing skills, Turner is shown geared up for one of his last competitive air races. Though he retired safely, this photo marks the close of a thrilling career.
10. Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron), 1918
The infamous German pilot poses with his signature triplane. Days later, he was shot down over France during World War I, bringing an end to his legendary time flying.
11. Jackie Cochran, 1964
Cochran is seen in front of her cockpit of a military jet after World War II. A pioneer in women´s aviation, she continued to test aircraft well into her 60s, setting speed records that no woman had previously achieved.
12. Jean Mermoz, 1960s
The celebrated French pilot is captured boarding a transatlantic mail flight. He disappeared over the South Atlantic, and no trace of his plane was ever found.
14. Jimmy Doolittle, 1945
Doolittle is shown climbing into a bomber during the last stages of World War II. Best known for the Doolittle raid, he remained a military figure until his retirement.
15. Pancho Barnes, 1950s
Photographed in full gear, Barnes is ready for a recreational flight. She remained active in aviation circles even after her stunt-flying days, mentoring young pilots and pushing for women in flight.
16. Erich Hartmann, 1945
The highest-scoring fighter ace in history, Hartmann is pictured before surrendering his aircraft at the end of World War II. Unlike many wartime pilots, he survived the conflict and went on to serve in postwar aviation.
17. Tommy Gunn, 1912
Tom Gunn, a pioneer in Asian and American aviation, is seen preparing for a demonstration flight. He later died in a crash in China, where he was advocating for military aviation development.
18. Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, 1999
This historic cockpit photo shows the pair inside the Breitling Orbiter 3 before their successful circumnavigation of the globe by a balloon. It was a peaceful, record-breaking journey, unlike many others on this list.
19. Valentina Tereshkova, 1963
Tereshkova is seen suited up in her capsule before becoming the first woman in space. Her legacy lives on as a pioneer for women in aerospace.
20. Yuri Gagarin, 1968
Years after becoming the first human in space, Gagarin boarded a MiG-15 for a routine flight. The jet crashed, ending the life of one of the most iconic figures in space history.
21. Peggy Whitson, 2017
NASA´s most experienced astronaut at the time, Whitson, is shown on the ISS during her final mission. Her career spanned decades and broke numerous records for women in space.
22. Chuck Yeager, 1997
In his final commemorative flight, Yeager piloted an F-15 decades after breaking the sound barrier. He remained a symbol of test pilot bravery and military precision to the very end.
Explore more vintage content:
Each image reminds us not only of where we´ve been, but how far human ambition can take us. If you found these stories fascinating, explore more moments from the past through visual history. Check out 20 Vintage Photos of Air Forces from the Past (1920s–1980s), or 13 Ways The US Military Is Actually Really Wild.
