BFG Aerospace
Four Coliseum Centre
2730 West Tyvola Rd.
Charlotte, NC USA 28217-4578
Phone Number: +1 (704) 423-7000
Aerospace History

We helped them fly higher. Safer. Further. We helped send them out of this world and back home safe again.

We have been doing it since the dawn of flight. And Goodrich will continue to help them fly higher, safer and further into the new century.
 1909 Early Air Speed Records

It was 1909, a mere six years after the Wright Brothers historic first flight. Glenn Curtis of the Curtis Aeroplane Corporation set a speed record of 47 miles per hour to win the first international flying meet in Rheims, France.

What helped his plane get a jump on all the others? Airplane tires made by Goodrich.

 

1927

Charles Lindbergh

In 1927 throngs of people filled the streets of Paris to honour Charles Lindbergh, the American who made the first non-stop intercontinental flight.

The last part of his plane to leave America . . .and the first part of his plane to touch down in France . . .was Goodrich Silvertown® airplane tires!

 1930 Flight De-icing Technology

Charles Lindbergh said ice was the greatest danger he encountered on his historic transatlantic 1927 flight. His comment spurred research that Goodrich used to introduce the first aircraft de-icing systems in 1932. This innovation helped to propel the fast growth of commercial air service.

Almost 70 years later, Goodrich continues to lead the world in aircraft de-icing innovation.

 1934 The First Pressure Suit

In 1934, Goodrich engineer Russ Colley conceived and built the first pressure suit that would enable pilots to fly at altitudes of 30,000 feet (9144 meters) and above. This enabled world-famous aviator Wiley Post to fly high enough to ride the “jet stream” that very same year. Once again, Goodrich helps to revolutionize flight.

 1937 30's and 40's Aircraft

Goodrich entered the field of aircraft brakes in 1937. In just a few short years, Goodrich brakes became standard equipment on many military and cargo planes.

Our innovation has never ceased and in the 1970s Goodrich helped pioneer the use of carbon as a new material for aircraft braking systems.

 1961 The Mercury Astronauts

Three decades after Goodrich engineer Russ Colley made the first pressure suit, he helped to develop the space suits worn by the Project Mercury astronauts. In 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

A year later, John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth. Both wore Goodrich space suits.

 1988  

The NASA Space Shuttle

Goodrich’s relationship with NASA has flourished ever since developing space suits for the Mercury astronauts. Now Goodrich is a part of the space shuttle program. Every space shuttle since the Enterprise has been equipped with Goodrich wheels and brakes. Moreover, nearly every division in the Goodrich organization contributes some product or service that is essential to the shuttle. Goodrich is proud of its contributions . . . from the dawn of flight to tomorrow’s next space exploration. We are in awe of the sky. We are challenged to make it a safer place to be.