Today in Aviation History

AirCorps Restorations
Alan Armstrong 729
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Today in Aviation History: The First UK-Built Concorde Takes Flight

On April 9, 1969, Concorde 002 became the first UK-built supersonic airliner to take flight,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Douglas BTD Destroyer

On April 8, 1943, the Douglas BTD Destroyer made its first flight—an ambitious World War…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Aérospatiale Gazelle

On April 7, 1967, the sleek and innovative Aérospatiale Gazelle took flight for the first…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell P-39 Airacobra

While the Bell P-39 Airacobra often receives criticism for its poor performance at higher altitudes,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Blériot V Monoplane

On April 5, 1907, Louis Blériot made history with the first flight of his Blériot…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the SPAD S.XIII

On April 4, 1917, the SPAD S.XIII fighter biplane took its maiden flight, marking a…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of a Commercially Certified Helicopter

On April 3, 1946, the Bell Model 47 made history as the first commercially certified…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the SNCASE Armagnac

On April 2, 1949, the SNCASE S.E.2010 Armagnac took to the skies for its maiden…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the North American AT-6 Texan

On April 1, 1935, the North American NA-16 prototype took its maiden flight, paving the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Miles Master

Eighty-six years ago today, on March 31, 1939, the Miles M.9 Master took to the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Sikorsky S-42

Ninety-five years ago today, the Sikorsky S-42 took flight for the first time, marking a…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: P-51C Mustang ‘Thunderbird’ Sets Transcontinental Speed Record

Seventy-six years ago, the P-51C Mustang Thunderbird streaked across the skies, setting a transcontinental speed…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Gyroscopically-Stabilized Liquid-Fueled Rocket Launch

Ninety years ago today, on March 28, 1935, Robert H. Goddard launched the first gyroscopically-stabilized…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Fokker D.XXI

On this day in aviation history, 89 years ago—March 27, 1936—the first flight of the…

Austin Hancock