Aviation History

In 1925… In a record that would stand until Feb. 24, 1983, Farman Parker of Anderson, Indiana becomes the world’s youngest pilot to fly solo. Born on January 9, 1912, he flies at the age of 13 years, 7 months, 17 days. (F&F) In 1929… The first flight of the largest trimotor transport aircraft built by Fokker, the F.IX, takes to... 

In 1784… The son of a Scottish minister, James Tytler, makes the first manned balloon hop in England when his hot-air device makes a brief uncontrolled ascent with Tytler in the basket to an altitude of a few hundred feet. (F&F) In 1919… The first daily commercial scheduled international air passenger service starts between London and... 

In 1921… In the worst airship disaster thus far, 44 people die when the British dirigible R.38 is destroyed during routine operations off the coast of Yorkshire, England, by fire started by electrical sparks that engulfed the airship. (F&F) In 1956… A U.S. Army helicopter becomes the first rotary-winged aircraft to fly non-stop across... 

In 1909… The first great aviation meeting in Bétheny, France, opens as 23 European airplanes make 87 flights during one week. The meeting will have a strong influence on the technical and military aspects of flight. (OTM) In 1922… The Vickers Victoria (serial no. J6869) military transport makes its first flight, taking off from Brooklands,... 

In 1909… The first great aviation meeting in Bétheny, France, opens as 23 European airplanes make 87 flights during one week. The meeting will have a strong influence on the technical and military aspects of flight. (OTM) In 1922… The Vickers Victoria (serial no. J6869) military transport makes its first flight, taking off from Brooklands,... 

In 1908… Wilbur Wright begins flying demonstrations of his Flyer A from the artillery ground known as Camp d’Auvers, 7 miles east of Le Mans, France, having moved from the Hunaudières race course. (F&F) In 1908… The first turn in the air performed by a monoplane is carried out by Antoinnette II, first flown at Issy-les-Moulineaux... 

In 1901… The Wright brothers leave Kitty Hawk, N.C., at the end of their second season of testing gliders and return to Dayton, Ohio. (F&F) In 1908… The Wright Flyer built for flight trials before the U.S. Army arrives at Fort Meyer, near Washington, D.C., eight days ahead of schedule. Before trials begin, tests to check transportability,... 

In 1871… Orville Wright is born in Dayton, Ohio. He is co-inventor, with his brother Wilbur, of the first airplane to achieve powered, sustained, and controlled flight and the first fully practical powered airplane. Orville piloted the famous first flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina after winning a coin flip against his brother. (OTM) In... 

In 1871… Alphonse Pénaud achieves the first flight of an inherently stable airplane when his Planophore is flown 131 feet in 11 seconds before the Société de Navigation Aérienne in the Tuileries Gardens, Paris. (F&F) In 1901… At the invitation of Chanute, Wilbur Wright addresses the Western Society of Engineers in Chicago with a... 

In 1910… The first English Channel crossing by an airplane with a passenger is made by John Moisant who takes his mechanic in his two-seater Blériot on the flight from Calais, France to Dover, England. (OTM) In 1946… The first person to be ejected from an airplane by means of its emergency escape equipment is Sergeant Lambert at Wright...