Author: Julia Lauria-Blum

On the gray, overcast morning of May 20, 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh lifted off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island in his Ryan M-2 monoplane, ‘The Spirit of St. Louis’, powered by a 220-horsepower, air-cooled Wright J-5C engine. Thirty-three hours and 30 minutes later, on May 21, he landed safely at Le Bourget Field, near Paris, and was greeted by an unconstrained, exuberant crowd of over 100,000 people, having completed the very first solo trans-Atlantic flight. Astounded by the sheer mass of people surrounding his airplane and fearing that his plane would be damaged, his first words were, “Are there…

Setting the Gold Standard in Animal Handling and Transportation The ARK at JFK is a comprehensive, multi-purpose animal airport handling and cargo facility and quarantine center at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that provides pre and post-travel animal care and veterinary services for horses, pets, in-transit companion animals, birds, and livestock. The ARK is committed to the safe, humane treatment of all animals traveling by air, ensuring an efficient, safe, secure, and low-stress environment for both human and animal clients. John J. Cuticelli, Jr., Founder and Chairman of ARK Development, LLC, has led a world-class team of…

On April 8, as the shade of the Moon overlapped the Sun and swept across the Mexican and Texas border on a path that spanned 15 states, tens of millions of people across North America had the chance to witness a rare, unearthly celestial show, with some 31 million people in the path of totality that thrust them into abrupt darkness and a hasty chill in the air. NASA estimates that 99% of people residing in the U.S., including parts of Alaska and Hawaii, were able to experience the eclipse either partially or in totalityIn the Northeast, as officials tally…

Artemis and SpaceX, flying cars, electric airplanes, space tourism, and Artificial Intelligence in the ever-evolving landscape of technology. Over the coming months and years, the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s ongoing series, The Future is Now, will feature air and space exhibits, educational programs, events, and planetarium shows, all designed to educate, inform, inspire, and continue the legacy of Long Island’s aerospace heritage of discovery.  In celebrating the latest reprise of its ongoing series, the Museum recently hosted a film preview and cocktail reception for its new film, Cities of the Future, and the opening of its companion exhibit, Engineering the Future, which showcases the mind-bending technology…

On an extraordinary day in March of 2010, I stood before the steps of the U.S. Capitol admiring the majestic beauty of its immediately familiar white dome rising over 285 feet above the Capitol building’s rotunda. Perhaps the nation’s most recognizable and identifiable American landmark, the prominent dome that overlooks the city of Washington D.C. commands a westward view across the Capitol Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial just two miles away. The Capitol, with its impressive dome, is an icon of the American people. Built high on a hill as a symbol of democracy, it…

On May 15, 1942, The Wings Club was formed in New York City when a group of America’s aviation leaders came together for a common purpose, to find a suitable non-profit meeting place to gather at and promote the advancement and development of aeronautics. The Club was specifically founded to provide a center for discussion of matters pertaining to aviation and to provide members services and facilities to aid them in aeronautical activities. The Wing Club’s first President was Caleb S. Bragg, and prominent civil and military aviation leaders, including Eddie Rickenbacker and Juan Trippe, were named as its first…

Fly With Me tells the story of the pioneering young women who became flight attendants at a time when single women were unable to order a drink, eat alone in a restaurant, own a credit card, or get a prescription for birth control. Becoming a “stewardess,” as they were called, offered unheard-of opportunities for travel, glamour, adventure, and independence. Although often maligned as feminist sellouts, these women were on the frontlines of the battle to assert gender equality and transform the workplace. Featuring firsthand accounts, personal stories, and a rich archival record, the film tells the lively and important but neglected history of…

I was recently invited to attend and moderate a panel lecture about pioneering African American aviators, which took place at the extraordinary Explorer’s Club on E. 70th Street in New York. And what a fascinating evening it was! The invitation was initiated in early January when Lt. Col. Paul Tanghe, Ph.D., a member of the Explorers Club and on the Club’s Public Lectures Committee, asked if I would collaborate with him on developing the lecture along with the Metropolitan Airport News as a sponsor for the event. Special guests on the panel included Gigi Coleman Brooms, the great-niece of legendary…

Airline Flight & Cabin Crew Couture While uniforms may very well be the antithesis of high fashion, the relationship between the two uncovers a fascinating narrative and history. The focus of a uniform’s design is function, practicality, tradition, order, and durability. At the same time, fashion reflects continual change, imagination, originality, and often, defiance. But even within this contrast, style conveys an idea, a unique voice, and an individual identity. Airlines liveries are graphic motifs applied to the exteriors of commercial aircraft. In a sense, they are an airplane’s distinctive ‘uniform’ that reflects an airline’s image or origin, a country’s…

The new Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club offers an elevated experience with Chase’s first-ever bookable Reserve Suites, dedicated wellness rooms, a game room, and exclusive menus from New York staples, including Joseph Leonard and Jeffrey’s Grocery, and drink selections from Parcelle, Apotheke and Joe Coffee. On January 16, 2024, Chase, with the support of Airport Dimensions, opened the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at LaGuardia Airport, welcoming travelers to an enhanced and premium hospitality experience with a local flavor and a side of New York City-inspired design. Airport Dimensions is the global specialist in helping airports enhance their…