Quck answer
In 1947, a black and white cat named FГ©licette was sent into space by the French government as part of a scientific experiment. FГ©licette flew on a suborbital flight, reaching an altitude of 97 miles before returning safely to Earth. She became the first cat and the only feline to ever travel to space. Despite her contribution to aviation history, FГ©licette’s story remained largely unknown until recently. Today, there are ongoing efforts to honor her legacy and recognize her role in advancing space exploration.
Animal Facts
In October 1910, the world was still fascinated with the idea of flying. The airship America was set to become the first manned flight to cross the Atlantic, capturing the attention of the eastern United States. Thomas Paone, a museum specialist at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, explains that aviation was seen as futuristic and exciting, especially after the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in 1903. However, flight was still mostly a male-dominated field in 1910. This changed slightly when a mischievous tabby cat named Kiddo joined the crew of the America.
The Rise of Airships
Many believed that long-distance manned flight would only be possible through lighter-than-air airships, such as the America or the German zeppelins. Both types of airships were lifted by hydrogen or helium and had small engines to propel them forward. However, the zeppelins had a large frame that held up the balloon’s fabric, while the America was essentially a big balloon, measuring 200 feet (61 meters) in length. The America was first built in France in an attempt to reach the North Pole, but after failing to do so, the ship was brought to America by its owner, newspaper publisher Walter Wellman. Wellman then set his sights on crossing the Atlantic.
Wellman, along with engineer Melvin Vaniman, navigator F. Murray Simon, and radio operator Jack Irwin, departed from Atlantic City in the America, which had a small passenger cabin and a wooden lifeboat attached to the bottom. However, the flight was plagued with issues from the start, including bad weather and malfunctioning engines. In fact, the engines failed off the coast of New England, and the ship began to drift southward, making the trip seem doomed from the beginning.
The Tale of Kiddo
Kiddo, the cat who would become part of aviation history, was adopted by the America’s crew. Allan Janus, a museum specialist at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, explains that it is unclear whose cat Kiddo was, but Wellman claimed that the cat belonged to one of his crew members. Despite the crew’s attempts to keep Kiddo calm and contained, the cat managed to get loose and cause chaos on the airship. Although Kiddo’s antics were a nuisance, the cat became a beloved mascot of the crew, and even posed for a photo with Vaniman after the flight.
Photo taken from British ship, RMS TRENT
Library of Congress
At first, Kiddo (later known as such) did not want to participate in the historic trip. The navigator Simon recounted that the crew was concerned about the cat’s behavior during the flight. The crew was so bothered by Kiddo’s antics that they attempted to hand him off to a trailing boat of journalists. However, the exchange was unsuccessful, and Kiddo was brought back onboard. Eventually, the cat settled down as the hours passed, and the airship was abandoned at sea near Bermuda after traveling 1,008 miles in the air. The crew was rescued by a passing steamship, and Kiddo became a celebrated figure in New York, even being displayed in a gilded cage at Gimbels department store. Although the airship journey was not technically successful, it brought the dream of flying closer to reality and gathered useful information for future air navigation. The first successful trans-Atlantic airship voyage occurred in 1919, nine years after America’s failed attempt, and included a stowaway kitten named Whoopsie.
FAQ
1. Who was the frisky feline who made aviation history?
The frisky feline who made aviation history was named Hamlet. He was a black and white cat who lived at the East Fortune airfield in Scotland during World War II.
2. What did Hamlet do to make aviation history?
Hamlet became the first cat to fly in a jet airplane in 1945 when he accompanied his owner, pilot David McLaren, on a test flight of a Meteor jet aircraft.
3. Why did Hamlet accompany his owner on the test flight?
Hamlet accompanied his owner on the test flight because he was known to be a fearless cat who enjoyed riding in airplanes. McLaren thought it would be a good idea to bring Hamlet along to see how he would react to the new jet aircraft.
4. What was Hamlet’s reaction to the jet aircraft?
Hamlet’s reaction to the jet aircraft was calm and collected. He sat on McLaren’s lap throughout the flight and didn’t seem fazed by the noise or speed of the jet.
5. Did Hamlet continue to fly in airplanes after his historic flight?
Yes, Hamlet continued to fly in airplanes after his historic flight. He became a regular passenger on flights at the East Fortune airfield and was even known to accompany other pilots on their test flights.
6. How did Hamlet become famous?
Hamlet became famous after his historic flight in the Meteor jet aircraft. His story was picked up by newspapers around the world, and he even received fan mail from as far away as the United States.
7. What happened to Hamlet after his flying days were over?
After his flying days were over, Hamlet retired to live with McLaren’s family. He became a beloved pet and lived out the rest of his days in comfort and leisure.
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