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March 26
In 1922… One of the first small commercial transport aircraft built upon experience from passenger flying and the requirements of airline operators, makes its first flight from Edgware, near London. The 10-seat passenger D. H. 34, with a top speed of 128 mph and a cruising speed of 105 mph has a range of 365 miles.

1931 – Swissair is formed by the merger of Ad Astra Aero and Balair.

In 1934… Piloted by John Lankester Parker and with three passengers on board, the first landplane derivative of the Short Kent flying boat takes off to the air for the first time. Named Scylla (G-ACJJ), the big biplane is followed by Scyrinx (G-ACJK) for the busy Imperial Airways routes into continental Europe.

In 1938… Arthur Clouston and Victor Ricketts land their D. H. 88 Comet Australian Anniversary at Gravesend in Kent, England to complete a 26,500-mile flight from England to New Zealand and back in a record 10 days 21 hours.

1958 – The United States Army launches Explorer 3. Explorer 3 was an artificial satellite of the Earth, nearly identical to the first United States artificial satellite Explorer 1 in its design and mission. It was the second successful launch in the Explorer program.

The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (now Kennedy Space Center) in Florida at 17:31:00 UTC on March 26, 1958, on the Jupiter-C vehicle.
The Jupiter-C has its origins in the United States Army’s Project Orbiter in 1954. The project was canceled in 1955, however, when the decision was made to proceed with Project Vanguard. Following the launch of the Soviet Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, ABMA was directed to proceed with the launching of a satellite using the Jupiter-C, which had already been flight-tested in nose-cone re-entry tests for the Jupiter IRBM (intermediate-range ballistic missile). Working closely together, ABMA and JPL completed the job of modifying the Jupiter-C and building the Explorer I in 84 days.

Explorer 3 burned up in the upper atmosphere on June 27, 1958, after 93 days of operation.
A replica of the spacecraft is currently located in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery.

That’s what happened today, March 26th in Aviation History. We will see you Tomorrow!

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March 25

In 1917… One of the greatest fighter pilots of WWI, Canada-born Lt. Col. William Avery Bishop, scores his first combat victory over an Albatros single-seat fighter while flying a Nieuport.

1924 – Royal Air Force officers McLaren, Plenderleith, and Andrews set off in an attempted round-the-world flight in a Vickers Vulture II. Their attempt will ultimately fail in Siberia in early August.

In 1926… Willie Messerschmitt, a graduate of Munich Technical High School and already an experienced designer of light aircraft and sailplanes, forms the Messerschmitt company in Germany.

In 1960… The first NASA flight in the X-15 hypersonic research program gets under way when test pilot Joseph A. Walker makes the first of his flights in this aircraft.

1979 – QANTAS retires its last Boeing 707 and becomes the world’s first airline with a fleet of exclusively Boeing 747s. John Travolta owns one of QANTAS’ old 707′s. His aircraft still bears the marks of Qantas, as Travolta acts as an official goodwill ambassador for the airline wherever he flies it.

In 1993… The first woman Concorde pilot makes her first flight as First Officer of the daily supersonic London-New York route. British-born, Barbara Harmer, is one of only 17 co-pilots in the British Airways Concorde fleet.

2006 – A revolutionary scramjet jet engine Hyshot III designed to fly at seven times the speed of sound is successfully tested at Woomera, South Australia.

And that is what happened, today March 25th in aviation history. We will see you tomorrow.

(from a press release)

World’s First Manned Commercial
Spaceship Revealed

On a blustery December 7th 2009 history was made in the Mojave Desert as aerospace partners Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites revealed the world’s first commercial passenger space liner.

Those of us fortunate enough to attend were among a heady crowd that included the visionary aerospace engineer and system designer Burt Rutan, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, the entire Scaled Composites team, about 170 future astronauts with confirmed reservations … and of course the Accredited Space Agents who are escorting these pioneering clients into a new era in tourism.

Also in attendance were Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Richardson, respectively of California and New Mexico. The two politicians jovially bantered over whose state should rate higher for its involvement in the future of commercial space travel. California is a well-known aerospace incubator and New Mexico is quickly gaining a space-friendly reputation via its newest public works project, Spaceport America, where Virgin Galactic departures will take flight.

The air was charged with excited anticipation. When the big reveal finally came, the 800-strong crowd erupted into thunderous applause on seeing the spaceship suspended from the mother ship, VMS Eve taxiing toward them.

With the resounding smash of two champagne bottles held by the two governors, she was christened VSS Enterprise.

Test flights of the carrier aircraft “White Knight 2″ have been under way for nearly 12 months and flight-testing with the new spaceship has begun!
Contact me today to hear about this incredible milestone and to reserve your place in history.
Beverly S Rother
Accredited Space Agent
1.305.932.5560 x145
brother@foresttravel.com

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March 24

In 1904… The Wrights apply for a German patent for their airplane. Two days ago they applied for a French one.

In 1909… The Wright brothers found a school in the USA to train pilots for exhibition flights. The first pupil is a childhood friend, Walter Brookins, 21, from Dayton. Because Dayton’s weather is not good enough, Orville Wright sets up the school at Montgomery, Alabama, where winds are generally light.

1919 – Igor Sikorsky flees Europe for the United States

In 1932… Jim Mollison leaves Lympne, Kent, England at the start of a record-breaking attempt to fly to South Africa in a D. H. 80A Puss Moth (G-ABKG) specially modified as a long-range single seater. His time was 4 days 17 hours 19 minutes.

In 1939… American woman air record-breaker Jacqueline Cochran achieves a woman’s altitude record of 30,052 ft. 5 in. over Palm Spring, California in a Beechcraft Model 17.

In 1971… As a result of votes in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Boeing cancels its supersonic transport. The elaborate, full-size mock-up is eventually sold to a promotion specialist who puts it in a Florida amusement park.

1992 – The United States Department of Transportation announces that it will sign open skies treaties with any states that wish to reciprocate. The first open skies treaty is signed between the U.S. and the Netherlands later in the year.

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March 23

In 1903… The Wright brothers file a patent request for a powered flying machine based on the second (modified) version of their 1902 glider successfully tested at Kill Devil Hills, NC

In 1908… French industrialist Lazare Weiller signs a contract with the Wrights establishing a Wright airplane company in France, on condition that the brothers make two demonstration flights covering 50 km (31.1 miles) within a hour’s flying time. They will receive FF500, 000 and half the founders’ share

1911 – Louis Breguet carries 11 passengers a distance of 5 km (3.1 miles)

In 1921… Lieutenant Arthur Hamilton sets a new world record when he jumps by parachute from 24,400 feet.

In 1932… Flying a Bleriot 110, French aviators Lucien Bossoutrot and Maurice Rossi take off for a record closed-circuit distance of 6,587.442 miles at Oran, Algeria.

1936 – Imperial Airways begins scheduled flights between Hong Kong and Malaysia.

In 1948… Test pilot Gp. Capt. John Cunningham sets a new Federal Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) ratified world altitude record of 18,118 m (59446 ft.) during tests with the third production D. H. 100 Vampire (serial no. TG278).

1994 – Two military aircraft collide over Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, killing 24 people. An F-16D model hit the back of a C-130. The F-16 pilot then tried full afterburner to recover the aircraft which started to fall apart. He then ejected safely but his aircraft hit a C-141 sitting on the ramp and ended up in a field where army paratroopers were getting ready to board the 141. The C-130 meanwhile, came back around and landed. Nobody in either of the flying aircraft or the C-141 died. All the deaths were from the Fighter crash in the field.

Ok.. I just noticed that the Today in Aviation podcasts for the 21st and 22nd didn’t release as they should have. I’m away from my studio computer until Tuesday morning so I will re-upload and try to re-release them.

NO I DIDN’T PODFADE!

***UPDATE They are released! Check out the 2 posts below for the 21st and 22nd Today in Aviation History Podcasts
-Mike

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March 22

In 1915… The term naval aviator is adapted for U. S. Navy officer pilots to replace the identification navy air pilot in official terminology. This term is still in use today.

In 1989… The first and only Antonov An-225 built establishes 106 new Federal Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) world records in several classes, most important of which is a speed of 505.2 mph carrying a payload in the 155,000 – 340,000 lb.class around a closed circuit of 1,243 miles. The AN-225 is also the only aircraft up to that point that had a maximum total take-off weight well over 1 million pounds.

It’s an amazing Aircraft. Check out the whole story over at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225

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March 21

In 1877… Maurice Farman was born in Paris, France., Farman was an aviation pioneer and manufacturer.

In 1908… Henri Farman covers a 6,275 foot circle in 3 minutes 47 seconds in his Voisin-Farman No.1.

1918 – Germany launches Operation Michael, which was the initial attack against the British front west of St Quentin, the German Army Air Service has 1,680 aircraft to the Royal Flying Corps’ 579.

1930 – the Chilean army and navy combine their air arms into a separate, independent command.

In 1933… James L. Kinney makes the first cross-country test of blind flying and landing from College Park, Maryland to Newark, New Jersey.

In 1933… Fairey’s TSR.1 torpedo spotter-reconnaissance airplane makes its first flight at Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England.

1945 – the Ohka dedicated kamikaze weapon is used operationally for the first time but with no success.

1996 – Tupolev and NASA begin joint research into civil supersonic transports using a refurbished Tupolev Tu-144. The TU-144 was the Russian version of the Concorde SST. It was introduced into passenger service on 1 November 1977, almost two years after the Concorde, but was soon withdrawn after just 55 scheduled passenger flights due to potentially severe problems with aircraft safety and was not re-introduced to service.

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March 20
In 1920… Two South African pilots complete the first flight from Britain to South Africa after a flying time of four days, 13 hours, 30 minutes.

In 1922… The CV-1 Langley, America’s first aircraft carrier, is commissioned into the U. S. Navy at Norfolk, Virginia under the command of Comdr. Kenneth Whiting.

In 1932… The airship Graf Zeppelin begins a series of flights between Germany and Brazil. Several round-trips are planned per year, embarkation being at Friedrichshafen bound for Recife and later to Rio de Janeiro. (F&F)

In 1937… An attempted round-the-world flight by leading US woman aviator Amelia Earhart ends dramatically when the starboard tire of her Lockheed Electra airliner bursts during take-off from Honolulu, Hawaii. Because of damage, the expedition is temporary abandoned.

1964 – The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organization) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.

1979 Space Shuttle Columbia flies on the Shuttle carrier 747 aircraft to Kennedy Space Center. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA uses to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. One is a 747-100 model, while the other is a short range 747-100SR.

And that’s what happened today, march 20th in Aviation History, See you tomorrow

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March 19

In 1909… The International Aero and Motor-Boat Exhibition opens in London. Among the exhibits is a Wright airplane for sale for $7,000.

In 1912… The first of the U. S. Signal Corps Scout series capable of meeting a specification issued February 8, 1912, the S. C. No.8 is delivered to Augusta, Georgia by Curtiss pilot Charles F. Walsh. It finally passes all tests at College Park, Maryland in May with Lincoln Beachey at the controls

1945 – World War II: Off the coast of Japan, a dive bomber hits the aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13), killing 724 of her crew. Badly damaged, the ship is able to return to the U.S. under her own power.

In 1969… The first scheduled jet air service inside the Arctic Circle begins as Nordair inaugurates a weekly return service between Montreal, Canada and Resolution Bay, Cornwallis Island, Canada.

1989 Boeing V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft makes maiden flight. The V-22 is the first operational tilt rotor aircraft. It can take off and fly like a helicopter and then transition into “airplane mode” in less then 12 seconds. Then it flies like a conventional airplane until its time to land where it either tilts the engines 45 degrees up and lands like an airplane or tilts 90 degrees and lands like a helicopter.

And that’s what happened today, march 19th in Aviation History, See you tomorrow