Share this story On the afternoon of March 5, 1936, Captain Joseph “Mutt” Summers climbed into the cockpit of a prototype designated K5054 at Eastleigh Aerodrome near Southampton. Eight minutes later, he landed, climbed out, and reportedly said:...
At 10:35 on the morning of December 17, 1903, on a cold, windswept beach in North Carolina, a 32-year-old bicycle mechanic from Dayton, Ohio climbed onto a wooden biplane, opened the throttle of a 12-horsepower engine, and flew. Orville Wright stayed aloft for 12...
Quick Facts PilotColonel Chuck Yeager, USAF — the first human to break the sound barrier (1947) AircraftLockheed NF-104A Aerospace Trainer — an F-104 Starfighter modified with a 6,000-lb thrust Rocketdyne AR2-3 rocket motor DateDecember 10, 1963 Peak Altitude108,700...
Quick Facts AircraftMesserschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (“Swallow”) — the world’s first operational jet fighter First FlightJuly 18, 1942 (jet-only power); entered service April 1944 Top Speed870 km/h (540 mph) — roughly 150 km/h faster than any Allied...
L'après-midi du 9 août 1896, Otto Lilienthal décolla d'une colline près de Stölln, en Allemagne, à bord de son planeur monoplan standard – le même appareil qu'il avait piloté des centaines de fois auparavant. Une rafale soudaine le surprit. Le planeur décrocha. Il chuta d'une quinzaine de mètres….
Share this story Quick Facts Pilot Sub-Lieutenant Ian “Soapy” Watson, Royal Navy Aircraft British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1 (serial ZA176) Date June 1, 1983 Ship MV Alraigo — a Spanish container vessel Location Atlantic Ocean, approximately 50 miles...
Share this story Quick Facts Operation Black Buck 1 (first of seven missions, April 30 – May 1, 1982) Aircraft Avro Vulcan B.2 (XM607, 101 Squadron RAF) Crew Captain Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers Distance ~8,000 miles round trip (Ascension Island to Port Stanley...
Share this story Quick Facts Aircraft Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO: Fulcrum) First Flight October 6, 1977 Operators 30+ nations across four continents — one of the most widely exported fighters in history Role Air superiority fighter with secondary ground attack capability...
Share this story In 1799, a 26-year-old Yorkshire baronet engraved a small silver disc with two drawings — one on each side. On one face: a diagram of the forces acting on a wing in flight, showing lift, drag, and thrust as separate vectors. On the other: a sketch of...
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