September 5 – This Day In Aviation History

The 1st flight of a full-size triplane, the French Goupy, is made. Built by Ambroise Goupy, it has three sets of wings; each stacked above the others and is powered by 50-hp Renault engine. (OTM) (1908)

September 4 – This Day In Aviation History

Edward Hogan in Quebec makes the 1st parachute descents in Canada from a hot-air balloon. (OTM) (1888)

Louise Thaden becomes the 1st woman to win the prestigious coast-to-coast Bendix trophy race. (AYY) (1936)

September 3 – This Day In Aviation History

Orville Wright makes his 1st flight at Fort Meyer, Virginia, circling the field one-and-one-half times. During the next two weeks, he conducts a series of 14 long, high, and impressive flights, many of which set new records and are witnessed by government officials. (OTM) (1908)

Regular airmail service in Canada begins with flights between Ontario and Quebec. (OTM) (1924)

British Squadron Leader J.S. Fifield in England makes the 1st successful demonstration of the use of an ejection seat from a moving aircraft while still on the ground. He ejects from a modified Gloster Meteor 7 that is traveling 120-mph. (OTM) (1955)

September 1 – This Day In Aviation History

The 1st U.S. tactical air unit, the First Aero Squadron, is organized because of the August outbreak of war in Europe. Based in San Diego, California, the unit has 16 officers, 77 enlisted men, and 8 airplanes. (OTM) (1914)

President Warren Harding authorizes the creation of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, with Rear Admiral Moffet as its chief. (OTM) (1921)

The Royal Australian Air Force is formed. (OTM) (1923)

The 1st scheduled international helicopter service begins between Belgium and France. The service is operated by Belgian airline Sabena. (OTM) (1953)

The 1st aerial refueling of a jet aircraft by a jet tanker is made with a B-47 Stratojet by a KB-47B tanker. (OTM) (1953)

August 31 – This Day In Aviation History

In 1921… The first production Vickers Vernon, the first troop carrier designed for the British RAF (Royal Air Force), is delivered by the British manufacturer. (F&F)

In 1956… The first Boeing KC-135A (serial no. 55-3118) makes its first flight and is taken over by the USAF on January 31, 1957. (F&F)

In 1977… Soviet test pilot Alexander Fedotov claims a new world height record for manned aircraft when he climbs to a height of 37,650 m (123,523 ft.) flying the Mikoyan E-266M. (F&F)

August 30 – This Day In Aviation History

In 1913… American inventor Lawrence B. Sperry successfully demonstrates the first gyroscopic automatic stabilizing device for powered airplanes when Lt. Patrick N. L. Bellinger pilots a U.S. Navy flying boat designated C-2 and relinquishes full control to the autopilot. (F&F)

In 1933… Air France, France’s national airline, is formed. (OTM)

August 29 – This Day In Aviation History

In 1879… In Ontario, Nellie Thurston becomes the first Canadian woman to fly in a balloon. (OTM)

In 1909… At the end of a two-day flight from Lake Constance during which Count von Zeppelin travels a total distance of more than 400 miles, he makes a spectacular flight in his dirigible LZ5 over the city of Berlin, Germany. (F&F)

In 1911… Mrs. A. Hewlett is the first British woman to gain a pilot’s license. (AYY)

In 1955… W.F. Gibb flies on Olympus-engined Canberra B.2 to a world record altitude of 65,889 ft. (AYY)

August 28 – This Day In Aviation History

In 1908… The US Army accepts its first dirigible. It is 96 feet long, with a 20-hp Curtiss engine. (AYY)

In 1919… The International Air Traffic Association (IATA) is formed at The Hague, Holland. (OTM)

In 1957… A record altitude for manned aircraft is achieved by the RAF Canberra serial no. WK 163 piloted by chief test pilot M. Randrup. He flies the aircraft to 70,310 ft. with the aid of a Double Scorpion rocket motor. (F&F)

August 26 – This Day In 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 the air on its first flight. The prototype (PH-AGA) was handed over to KLM on May 8, 1930, and given the name Adelaar (Eagle). (F&F)

In 1959… French flyer Jacqueline Auriol, piloting the Mirage III, becomes the first woman to attain the speed of Mach 2. (AYY)

In 1959… President Eisenhower replaces his airplane with a jet, a USAF VC-137A, which is a modified Boeing 707 jet-airliner. The switch allows the President to cut his travel time in half. (AYY)

August 25 – This Day In Aviation History

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 Paris. A single fare to Paris is 21 pounds. (OTM)

In 1932… The first woman to fly non-stop across the United States is Amelia Earhart. She flies in a Lockheed Vega. (OTM)

Next Page »