Best pilot in the world– When it comes to anything related to aviation, the best pilots in the world are without a doubt many years ahead of the pack.
They know everything there is to know about flying and flying planes, and they hold the distinction of being among the most experienced and disciplined pilots out there.
The 10 Best Pilots in the World rank as the most talented, skilled, and experienced pilots in the world. They’ve flown thousands of miles and guided billions of passengers to their destinations.
Now you can find out who made it to the top of the list!
Top 10 Best Pilot in the World You Should Know
With the increasing demand for pilots in different industries, it is important to know who some of the best pilots in the world are.
These are people who have achieved international recognition and won prestigious awards. The following list provides a glimpse of these top 10 pilots.
1. Amelia Earhart
Best pilot in the world: Amelia Earhart
Though there have been many great pilots throughout history, Amelia Earhart is widely considered to be the best pilot in the world.
She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and she also set numerous other aviation records. Her courage and skill as a pilot inspired countless people, and she remains a role model for aviators even today.
Not everyone thought that Amelia Earhart was the best pilot in the world, though. When she attempted to fly around the world at the equator, one man said that she would have trouble just getting off of the ground.
This proved to be true when her plane crashed right after take-off. Although this ended Amelia’s attempt to be the first person to fly around the world, it did not affect her overall reputation as a pilot.
Amelia Earhart had some experience with aviation before she became famous for setting records and flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
At her high school in Kansas, there was no course on aeronautics. As a result, students could only learn about aviation by reading books and magazines.
Amelia Earhart was an avid reader, so she was already familiar with the basics of flying by the time she started taking lessons.
Amelia Earhart had a natural talent for flying, but that wasn’t all that made her successful as a pilot. She was also very brave and determined.
When she first started flying, there were very few women pilots. Amelia Earhart was determined to prove that women could be just as good as men at flying planes.
She also didn’t let any obstacles stop her from achieving her goals. For example, when she was trying to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, she had to deal with a lot of setbacks.
The most dangerous one was when she encountered a series of severe thunderstorms, but Amelia kept going and eventually made it safely to Paris.
Amelia Earhart is still considered the best pilot in the world, even though she passed away decades ago. Her legacy lives on in photos, artifacts from her life, and historic sites.
In addition, she can be seen as a role model for aviators around the world, and her courage serves as an example of what determination can accomplish.
2. Baron Manfred Von Richthoven
best pilot in the world: Baron Manfred Von Richthoven
Some say that Baron Manfred von Richthoven was the best pilot in the world. He was a skilled fighter pilot and aviation tactician who is credited with almost 100 aerial victories.
He was also an accomplished artist, and his paintings of war scenes are considered some of the most important works of art from World War I.
Born in 1892, Von Richthoven grew up in a privileged family and was interested in aviation from a young age.
He became a fighter pilot with the German Air Force in World War I, and quickly established himself as one of the most successful pilots on the front lines.
He was known for his aggressive flying style and his ability to take down enemy aircraft with ease.
In May 1918, Von Richthoven was shot down and badly injured during a dogfight over France. He survived the crash, but was captured by the Allies and held as a prisoner of war.
After the war ended, he returned to Germany and continued his career in aviation. He died in a plane crash in 1929 when he crashed his aircraft into a tree during an air show.
He is remembered as one of Germany’s pioneer combat pilots and was credited with 80 aerial victories in total.
3. Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger
best pilot in the world: Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger
Chesley Sullenberger is known as the best pilot in the world. He is a highly respected figure in the aviation industry and is known for his incredible skill and expertise.
On January 15th, 2009, Sully made history when he successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River.
The plane had lost both engines after striking a flock of geese, and Sully was faced with the daunting task of landing the aircraft on a busy river.
However, he managed to do so without any casualties, and his heroic actions have since been praised by people all around the world.
Since that fateful day, Sully has continued to be a role model to pilots everywhere, showing that even the best of us can be humbled by a momentary lapse in judgement.
4. Erich Hartmann
Best pilot in the world: Erich Hartmann
Erich Hartmann is considered the best pilot in the world. He was a flying ace during World War II, with 352 confirmed kills. Hartmann was born in 1922 in Weissach, Germany.
He joined the Luftwaffe in 1940 and was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52), which was later transferred to the Eastern Front.
Hartmann became a pilot in 1942 and flew his first combat missions for JG 52 during the Battle of Stalingrad.
JG 52 was transferred back to Germany to defend against American bomber raids. Erich Hartmann scored his first victory on January 24, 1943, over a B-17 Flying Fortress piloted by Major Charles E. Yeager.
Hartmann was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on January 8, 1945. He was also awarded the Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds to the Knight’s Cross.
Erich Hartmann was the highest scoring fighter ace of all time with 352 kills. He was shot down eight times but was never captured.
Erich Hartmann was discharged from the Luftwaffe in 1955 and settled in West Germany. He died on September 20, 1993.
5. Noel Wien
Best pilot in the world: Noel Wien
Noel Wien was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 15, 1888. He was one of the early pioneers of aviation and is considered to be one of the world’s best pilots.
Wien began his flying career in 1911 when he took a flying lesson from Orville Wright. A few years later, in 1914, he began flying for the Wright Exhibition team, a group that performed at state and county fairs.
Wien eventually became a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he flew air mail between Minneapolis and Chicago.
In 1924, Noel Wien moved to Alaska because his mother was sick with cancer, but she died before he arrived in Anchorage.
Wien became one of Alaska’s first airline pilots when he started flying the mail for the newly formed Star Air Service in 1925. At 23, Wien was one of the youngest airmail pilots in the country.
That same year, he also helped to establish Airways Inc., which later became Alaska Airlines. From 1925 until his retirement in 1959, Noel Wien was a pilot for Alaska Airlines.
He logged over 40,000 hours of flying time and was the first pilot to fly the mail from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
Noel Wien was a true pioneer of aviation and is considered to be one of the world’s best pilots.
He made significant contributions to the development of aviation in both Alaska and the United States, and his legacy continues today with Alaska Airlines.
Thank you, Noel Wien, for your dedication to flying and for making the skies a safer place.
6. Robert A. Hoover
Best pilot in the world: Robert A. Hoover
Robert A. Hoover is considered by many to be the world’s best pilot. He has an incredible amount of flying experience and has been recognized for his skills both inside and outside of the cockpit.
Hoover got his start flying planes during World War II. He flew missions over Europe as a member of the United States Army Air Forces.
After the war, he continued to fly, becoming a test pilot and flying for airlines such as TWA and United Airlines.
Hoover is widely respected in the aviation community. He has been awarded numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1992, he was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
Hoover was a talented pilot, but he is also known for his humility and kindness. He has been described as a “gentleman pilot” who always puts the safety of his passengers first. He is truly a role model for pilots everywhere.
7. Wilbur And Orville Wright
Best pilot in the world: Wilbur And Orville Wright
Wilbur and Orville Wright were the best pilots in the world. They were the first people to ever fly a plane. They accomplished this on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wilbur was the pilot for that first flight.
The Wright brothers were born in Dayton, Ohio, on April 16, 1867. They became interested in flying after reading about it in magazines. They started working on planes in 1899. Their first plane was a glider.
The Wright brothers tested their planes in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, because the area has strong winds and is flat. The first test flight lasted only 12 seconds, but the Wright brothers kept working on their plane.
They moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1909 and started a company called the Wright Company. They produced planes for the United States Army and Navy during World War I (1914–1918).
Wilbur died of typhoid fever on May 30, 1912 in Dayton, Ohio at the age of 45. Orville died on January 30, 1948 of a heart attack at the age of 77.
The Wright brothers are buried in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton is also where the Wright Company started up. The company still exists today and is called the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Wilbur and Orville Wright were born on April 16, 1867, in Dayton, Ohio. They were the sons of Milton Wright, a bishop in the United Brethren Church, and Susan Catherine Koerner Wright.
The Wright brothers became interested in flying after reading about it in magazines.
8. General Charles A. Lindbergh
General Charles A. Lindbergh
Charles A. Lindbergh, or Charles Augustus Lindbergh (born February 4, 1902) is an American aviator, author, and military officer.
On May 20–21, 1927, he flew a transatlantic flight from Long Island, New York to Paris, France in the “Spirit of St. Louis”, a custom single-engine plane. This feat made him the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight in history.
While many people know him for his historical aviation achievements, he also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve (USAC),
later renamed the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), after it was established as a separate service in June 1941. He retired from the USAAF with the rank of brigadier general on September 1, 1954.
Lindbergh was also a prolific author, writing about his flying experiences, politics, and philosophy. His books include: “The Spirit of St. Louis,” “We,” and “The Autobiography of Values.”
For his many achievements, Lindbergh was awarded the United States’ highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom.
General Charles A. Lindbergh died on August 26, 1974 in his home in East Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and is buried at nearby Martha and Spencer Smith Park in Hopewell Township, just outside Princeton.
9. General Charles E. Yeager
General Charles E. Yeager
There have been many great pilots throughout history, but no one can quite compare to General Charles E. Yeager. Yeager is considered the best pilot in the world and has a long list of accomplishments to back up that title.
Yeager was born in 1922 in West Virginia and grew up with a love for aviation. He started his career in the military by dropping out of school and joining the army.
During World War II, he flew over 60 combat missions. He gained international fame when he exceeded the speed of sound for the first time on October 14th, 1947.
Yeager was also one of the test pilots during the X-1 rocket plane program. The program began in 1945 with the goal of flying a plane faster than the speed of sound. Yeager was the first pilot to successfully fly the X-1 and achieved this feat on October 14th, 1947.
Yeager’s achievements continued throughout his career. In 1955, he became the first person to travel into space without a spacecraft. He also set several world speed records and was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1979.
Today, Yeager is still an active pilot and has even served as a technical advisor for the movie The Right Stuff. At the age of 94, he shows no signs of slowing down and continues to be an inspiration to pilots around the world.
10. General James H. Doolittle
General James H. Doolittle
General James H. Doolittle was the best pilot in the world. He was an accomplished aviator and engineer and is most famous for leading the first bombing raid on Japan in World War II.
Doolittle was born in Alameda, California, in 1896. He enlisted in the Army Signal Corps in 1917 and served in World War I. After the war, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he studied aeronautical engineering.
In 1922, Doolittle became a test pilot for the Army Air Corps. He set several endurance and speed records in his aircraft, and was soon recognized as one of the world’s best pilots.
In 1924, he became interested in the concept of high-altitude flight. At that time, there were no oxygen systems to keep pilots alive at high altitudes.
Doolittle ascended above 40,000 feet to prove that humans could survive at such altitudes without aid (he wore an open gondola and remained exposed to the subzero temperatures for more than an hour).
In 1930, Doolittle helped develop the first successful air-to-air refueling system. He also pioneered the use of blind flying instruments, which allowed pilots to fly in bad weather conditions.
In 1941, at the outbreak of World War II, Doolittle was appointed commander of the newly formed Eighth Air Force in England. He was responsible for bombing raids on Germany and occupied Europe.
In April 1942, Doolittle led a daring raid on Japan, becoming the first person to bomb the Japanese home islands in World War II.
Doolittle retired from the military in 1946 but remained active in aviation circles. He served as a technical adviser for several airlines and aircraft corporations. In 1959, he became the first pilot to fly a jet across the Atlantic.
