Wings Over Kansas
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Screenshot of WOK as of December 2009 | |
Type of site | Aviation Education |
|---|---|
| Owner | Carl Chance |
| Created by | Carl Chance and Bill Bolte |
| Revenue | Advertising |
| Website | http://www.wingsoverkansas.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | None |
| Launched | July 1998 |
| Current status | Active |
Wings Over Kansas.com is an aviation website founded in 1998 by Carl Chance to provide information and entertainment to aviation enthusiasts and professionals worldwide. The web site is based in Wichita, Kansas, known as the "Air Capital of the World" due to the many aircraft manufacturers located there. In 2003, the site was upgraded to a data-based web site to better serve the needs of its members. "Wings Over Kansas" has grown steadily and as of 2009 draws over a quarter of a million visitors yearly from over 125 countries.[1]
History
Wings Over Kansas.com was created in 1998 by Wichita native Carl Chance, a broadcast professional and producer for the Wingspan Air & Space Channel.[1] In his more than thirty years of experience, Chance developed many relationships in the aviation community that have directly benefited the web site.[1] He is a charter member and past trustee on the Kansas Aviation Museum board of directors and a former member of the Kansas Aviation Council.[1] From 1998 to 2003, the site underwent a number of modifications to improve its value and navigation.[1]
2003 Redesign
In January 2003, the site was redesigned by professional web developer, Bill Bolte.[1] The new design included a data-based implementation to better serve the needs of the members including aviation professionals, educators, historians, and enthusiasts.[1]
Overview
Wings Over Kansas provides information on the entire aviation industry, but special emphasis is placed on Wichita aircraft manufacturing including Boeing, Hawker Beechcraft, Spirit AeroSystems, Cessna, Learjet, and Airbus.[2] The Wings Over Kansas web site includes the following features:[3]
- Aerospace news headlines
- Articles on aviation history and pioneering aviators
- Information on continuing education in the aviation field
- Photo galleries and video covering military and general aviation
- Employment information related to Kansas aviation companies
- Quizzes and trivia related to aviation
- Resources to help individuals learn to fly
- Links to related aviation web sites
Contributing editors
Wings Over Kansas receives support from a diverse group of contributing editors including:[3]
- Walter J. Boyne—aviation author and historian; former director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum[4]
- Lionel Alford, Jr.—aviation writer/author and historian[5]
- Edward H. Phillips—aviation author and historian; former southwest bureau chief for Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine[6]
- Frank Joseph Rowe—aircraft designer and senior design engineer[7]
- Bonnie Johnson—former director of the Aerodynamic Laboratories at Wichita State University[8]
- George M. Boyd—former Tuskegee Airman and Kansas Civil Air Patrol commander[9]
- Daryl Murphy—aviation author/historian[10]
- Richard Harris—aviation author/historian[11]
Additional information
In 2001, Wings Over Kansas was rated as one of the 500 best aviation-related web sites.[12] It was also the recipient of two Golden Web and a Best of Kansas on the Web awards for outstanding presentation and content.[13] To encourage children in grades 3–12 to learn about aviation, the web site provides Project Classroom—a set of standardized aviation education lesson plans offered free to teachers and students.[14] Wings Over Kansas also maintains a presence on Facebook.[15]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "About Wings Over Kansas". Wings Over Kansas. Wichita, Kansas: Chance Communications, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Kansas Aviation Subject of Television Special". Southwest Aviator Online. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Southwest Regional Publishing, Inc. Aug–Sep 2000. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- 1 2 "Wings Over Kansas". Wings Over Kansas. Wichita, Kansas: Chance Communications, Inc. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ↑ "NASM 1983 Chronology". Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ↑ "Alford Long Resume". Wichita, Kanasa: Lionel Alford, Jr. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
- ↑ "Aviation Pioneers: Edward H. Philips". Wings Over Kansas. Wichita, Kansas: Chance Communications, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ↑ "About the Author: Frank Joseph Rowe". Seattle, Washington: Amazon.com. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
- ↑ "Engineering dean to receive national honor". Wichita, Kansas: Wichita State University. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
- ↑ Hatteberg, Larry (December 15, 2002). "George Boyd". KAKE10.com. Albany, Georgia: Gray Television, Inc. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
- ↑ Murphy, Daryl (August 2008). "Where the West Begins: Fort Worth, Texas" (PDF). Piper Flyer. Waupaca, Wisconsin: Piper Flyer Association. pp. 24–32. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ↑ "New movie puts iconic Kansan back in spotlight". KSN.com. Los Angeles, California: New Vision Television. October 20, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ↑ Merry, John A. (2001). Aviation Internet Directory: A Guide to the 500 Best Web Sites. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 217. ISBN 9780071372169. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ↑ "Wings Over Kansas". Student Pilot.com. Saint Petersburg, Florida: PilotMall.com Inc. August 2, 2001. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ↑ "Education Newswatch". Teaching pre K–8. January 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Wings Over Kansas on Facebook". Palo Alto, California: Facebook, Inc. Retrieved November 20, 2009.