Harnessing the Sky

Vice Adm. Frederick "Trap" Trapnell, the U.S. Navy's aviation pioneer and "The godfather of current aviation".

After World War II, Trap returned as commander of the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, to lead the Navy through the challenges of transitioning to jets. Trap was not only the first U.S. Navy pilot to fly a jet, but is also recognized for defining the operating requirements for carrier-based jet propelled aircraft.