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Eileen Bjorkman

Eileen Bjorkman, a retired U.S. Air Force flight test engineer, is working on a book about the history of homebuilt aircraft.

Stories from this author

Arnold Ebneter takes the E-1 for a spin around Snohomish, Washington, in 2005. A few years and a few changes later, he set a distance record in it.

Across the Continent in a Homebuilt

Some pilots build airplanes just to travel far.

Vought F-8J Crusaders based on the carrier Oriskany fly in formation in 1971. The F-8 was a beloved dogfighter, but its day in the sun was short.

Have Gun, Will Dogfight

On its 60th anniversary, pilots remember the Vought F-8 Crusader.

The B-17’s cockpit ages well, but the copilot needs both hands to start the engines, and taxiing can be tricky.

Learning to Fly the Fortress

Memorable flights and other adventures

Maybe I Will Pass on That Coffee

Stuck in an F-16 with no bathroom in sight.

The F-100 was the first fighter to exceed Mach 1 in level flight.

When Slower Was Faster

The brains—and the physics—behind the 1955 Bendix win.

Tough-guy F-15s flank a grown-up F-16 over Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 2007.

The Outrageous Adolescence of the F-16

The Viper was small, fast, and in your face