Connecting Skies • Bridging Continents
AFRAA and South African Airways have opened the 14th Aviation Stakeholders Convention in Johannesburg, focusing on profitability, resilience, connectivity, and collaboration across African aviation. Industry
Airbus Helicopters has outlined its long-term strategy for integrated rotorcraft and uncrewed systems as defence operators adapt to evolving military and disaster response requirements. Company
Qatar Airways will expand its African network from June 2026 with increased frequencies, resumed services, and a new Port Sudan route launching in July. Airline to resume services and increase capacity across multiple African destinations from June 2026 Qatar Airways has announced a series of African
GE Aerospace’s Korean on wing support team has been recognised by Nippon cargo airlines following a rapid genx engine maintenance operation at Tokyo Narita airport. Rapid GEnx engine support operation highlights growing regional MRO capability A South Korea-based GE Aerospace On Wing Support (OWS) team has
EVA Air has retained its SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline certification for the 11th consecutive year while expanding its North American network with a new Washington, D.C. route. Recognition reinforces airline’s long-term operational and service consistency EVA Air has retained its SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline certification for the 11th
Surrey Sensors Limited and Certification Center Canada are developing next-generation airflow sensing technology aimed at improving aircraft icing detection and flight safety. Joint UK-Canadian project targets enhanced aircraft safety and rotorcraft operational capability Surrey Sensors Limited and Certification Center Canada have announced a joint research and
The Aerolite Spitfire Type 433 has made its public debut in Cornwall, combining modern composite technology with the design heritage of the iconic WWII fighter
Indonesia has taken delivery of Rafale fighters, Airbus A400M transport aircraft, and Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft as part of its ongoing military modernisation programme. Government
inter airport Europe will relocate to Milan and relaunch as inter airport Global in 2027, introducing new operational and ground support equipment demonstration platforms. inter
2011 – Space Shuttle Endeavour docks to the ISS for its final mission.
2006 – The world’s biggest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, lands at Heathrow Airport for the first time, making its UK debut.
1983 – American Airlines carries its 500 millionth passenger.
1982 – American Airlines‘ 1 millionth passenger is flown.
1979 – First flight of the Piper PA-42 Cheyenne.
1972 – Aeroflot Flight 1491, an Antonov An-10A, suffers a inflight structural failure while descending to land at Kharkov Airport in the Ukraine.
1969 – Launch of Apollo 10, fourth manned mission in the American Apollo space program, for testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself.
1969 – USMC Lockheed KC-130F Hercules BuNo 149814, c/n 3723, of VMGR-352, collided head-on with McDonnell F-4B Phantom II BuNo 151001 of VMFA-542, MAG-13, from Chu Lai (both crew killed), while refuelling two F-4Bs of VMFA-314 over South Vietnam near Phu Bai.
1967 – Prototype of the Dassault Mirage F1, French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft, crashes due to flutter, killing its pilot.
1966 – British pilot Sheila Scott takes off from London Heathrow for the first round-the-world solo flight. She will fly 29,000 miles (46,670 km) in stages in her Piper Comanche ‘Myth Too’.
1966 – Kosmos 11, soviet spacecraft re-enters earth’s atmosphere and breaks up.
1961 – Commander J. L. Felsman, US Navy, is killed in a McDonnell F4H-1F Phantom II, BuNo 145316, during the first attempt at “Operation Sageburner” speed record at Edwards Air Force Base, California, when his aircraft disintegrated in the air after pitch damper failure. This was the first fatal Phantom II accident.
1958 – An F-104A Starfighter sets a world speed record of 2,259.82 km/h (1,404.19 mph).
1958 – An F-104A Starfighter sets a world speed record of 2,259.82 km/h (1,404.19 mph).
1958 – In a Zero Length Launch (ZEL) experiment, a U. S. Air Force North American F-100D Super Sabre becomes airborne with no runway or take-off roll at all, using its own engine in afterburner and boosted by a 130,000-pound- (58,967-kg)-thrust Astrodyne rocket.
1953 – First flight of the Douglas DC-7, American 4 engine transport aircraft, last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas.
1953 – Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier.
1952 – Birth of Jeana Yeager, American aviatrix. most famous for co-piloting a non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world in the Rutan Voyager aircraft.
1951 – First flight of the Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant..
1949 – New-York city’s first helipad, is built on Pier 41 by the Hudson River.
1945 – Boeing B-29-45-MO (serial number 44-86292, victor number 82) Superfortress bomber ‘Enola Gay‘, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, mother of pilot Paul Tibbets rolls out from the manufacture.
1940 – First flight of the Pashinin I-21 (not to be confused with the Ilyushin TsKB-32, also known as “I-21”) Soviet fighter prototype.
1940 – First flight of Saab 17, Swedish bomber-reconnaissance aircraft.
1939 – Death of Col. Charles deForest Chandler, American military aviator, and the first head of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps that later became the United States Air Force.
1938 – Tadeusz Góra, Polish glider pilot, is the first winner of the Lilienthal Gliding Medal in the world for his record-breaking 577.8-kilometer flight in a PWS-101.
1934 – Entered into service was the Douglas DC-2 with Transcontinental and Western Air.
1919 – Harry Hawker and Lt Cdr Kenneth Mackenzie-Grieve attempt a non-stop Atlantic crossing but are forced to ditch their aircraft only 2,253 (1,400 miles) after leaving Newfoundland. London’s Daily Mail newspaper awards them a prize of £5,000 for their attempt anyway.
