Today in Aviation History

AirCorps Restorations
Alan Armstrong 729
Gosshawk 729
Gary Velasco 729

Today in Aviation History: Sputnik 1 Launches Into Orbit

Today in aviation history: On October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 became the world’s first artificial…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: X-15 Sets New World Airspeed Record

Today in aviation history: On October 3, 1967, the X-15A-2 set a world airspeed record…

Moreno Aguiari

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Vought XF6U Pirate

Today in aviation history: The Vought XF6U Pirate first flew on October 2, 1946. Restored…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell XP-59 Airacomet

Today in aviation history: The Bell XP-59 Airacomet, America’s first jet fighter, flew for the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the AH-64 Apache

Celebrate the first flight of the AH-64 Apache, the U.S. Army’s premier attack helicopter, known…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Vought XF7U-1 Cutlass

On September 29, 1948, the Vought XF7U-1 Cutlass made its first flight. This tailless, swept-wing…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Dassault Mystère IV

Celebrate the first flight of the Dassault Mystère IV, France’s first transonic fighter-bomber, which served…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Katherine Stinson, First U.S. Airmail Flight by a Woman Pilot

Celebrate Katherine Stinson, the first U.S. woman to fly airmail in 1913, and a pioneering…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the LTV A-7 Corsair II

Celebrate the first flight of the LTV A-7 Corsair II, a Vietnam War-era carrier-based attack…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the de Havilland DH.104 Dove

Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the de Havilland DH.104 Dove—a postwar British commuter aircraft that…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the North American T-28 Trojan

Celebrate the first flight of the North American T-28 Trojan, a legendary trainer and Vietnam-era…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Official U.S. Airmail Flight

On September 23, 1911, Earle Ovington completed the first official U.S. airmail flight, marking the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Grumman F-14 Tomcat Retires from U.S. Naval Service

On September 22, 2006, the F-14 Tomcat officially retired from U.S. Navy service. Explore the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress

On September 21, 1942, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress made its first flight, marking a major…

Austin Hancock