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Hubert Julian was a promoter of aviation and succeeded in generating publicity. Some say that he was the first person of color to get a pilot's licence in the United States, for which there are other claimants, though he was certainly one of the first. He was a supporter of Marcus Garvey and in 1922 flew his plane over parades in support of Garvey.

In 1924 Julian raised funds for an attempt at the first TransAtlantic flight to win the Orteig Prize. Julian took off in his airplane The Ethiopia I, but crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. He survived, spending weeks in hospital from his injuries.

Julian's successful 1929 Transatlantic flight, 2 years after that of Charles LindberghCharles Augustus Lindbergh II ( February 4, 1902 August 26, 1974) was a pioneering United States aviator famous for the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Early life Lindbergh was born in Detroit, Michigan as son of Swedish immigrants., was commemorated by Calypso musicCalypso is a style of Afro- Caribbean music which originated in the British and French colonial islands of the Caribbean at about the start of the 20th century' it is an especially integral part of Trinidadian music. The roots of the genre lay in the arri singer Sam ManningThe liner notes of Boogu Yagga Gal alert mento fans to the early Caribbean-Jazz recordings of two Trinidadians, Sam Manning and Lionel Belasco''. Both traveled to New York City, where they recorded the earliest versions of Jamaican mento songs in the jazz in the record Lieutenant Julian, and made Julian a well known figure in the African-American and Afro-Caribbean community, and he sometimes thereafter billed himself as "The Black Lindbergh".

Julian flew to EthiopiaThe Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ityop'iya Amharic ) is a country of northeastern Africa. It has one of the most extensive known histories as an independent nation in the continent. Unique among African countries, the Ethiopian monarchy maintai in 19301930 is the common year starting on Wednesday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 6 The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed ( Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 G, where his flying exploits impressed Emperor Haile Selassie, who awarded Julian Abyssinian citizenship and the rank of Colonel.

In 1931 he was the first African-American to fly coast to coast in the United States. Julian was one of several aviators in the 1920sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Events and trends Technology John Logie Baird invents the first working t and 1930sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s Years: 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented Link Trainer invented Sc who competed in outdoing each other and breifly holding records for longest non-stop flights. In 1931, for example, Julian held the non-stop non-refueling aviation endurance record with a flight of 84 hours and 33 minutes. Julian flew a number of flights in and between the Americas, Europe, and Africa, surviving several crashes. In between major flights, he toured with a small all Black flying circus which he headed, called The Five Blackbirds.

During the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, Julian flew to Ethiopia to aid in the defense of Selassie's government. He was put in command of the Ethiopian airforce, which at the time consisted of 3 planes. After getting into a public fist-fight with fellow African-American aviator John C. Robinson , Julian was ordered to leave the country.

Julian also invented some safety devices used in airplanes.

Julian also acted as producer for the 1939 motion picture Lying Lips.

After the United States entered World War II, Julian volunteered to train for combat with the 789th, the famous Tuskegee Airmen. He was remembered as a colorful character who wore a non-regulation Colonel's uniform, despite not holding that rank with the United States Armed Forces, and was discharged before graduation.

In the 1940s Julian lived in Harlem and continued receiving press as a local celebrity.

A series of articles entitled "Black Eagle" was serialized in the African-American New York Amsterdam News newspaper c. 1937 -1938.

In 1965 a biography of Julian entitled Black Eagle was published by The Adventurers Club in London; a (different?) book with the same title by John Peer Nugent was published in 1971 by Stein and Day in New York.

The 14 November 1974 issue of Jet Magazine briefly mentions Julian, saying he was then 77 years of age, and was making plans to rescue Haile Selassie, then believed to be held prisoner by the new government of Ethiopia.

Information on Julian since 1974 is scarce or lacking.