The South Takes Flight: 100 Years of Aviation in Georgia

More than 100 years has passed since Ben T. Epps built and flew the first airplane in Georgia. Since that historic flight in 1907, aviation has continued to play a significant role in Georgia’s history and economy. In celebration of this historic anniversary, Georgia Public Broadcasting aired a new documentary, The South Takes Flight, on October 22, 2007. The documentary traces the development of aviation in Georgia, from Ben Epp's first fragile flying machine in 1907 to today's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport - the world's busiest. Along the way, it revisits the early barnstormers whose passion and daring laid the foundation, the wars that drove aircraft development, and the airports and manufacturers that power Georgia's economy.