Aviation History

Latest History Posts

6/08/1988: ANA Paints Eyeballs on Jets to Cut Bird Strikes

Did you know that painting eyeballs on aircraft can cut bird collisions by 20%?

The History of Ted Stevens International Airport

Situated between East Asia and North America, Ted Stevens International Airport is an invaluable gem in the world of air cargo.

6/06/1932: First Flight of the AW.15 Atalanta

Discover the origin of the British four-engine airliner, the Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta.

6/05/1989: The An-225 Debuts at the Paris Air Show

The An-225 made its first public appearance outside the Soviet Union with a particular payload.

6/04/1948: PAL's First Transpacific Sleeper Service

Philippine Airlines began its first transpacific sleeper service between San Francisco, California.

5/03/1976: Pan Am’s Round-the-World Record-setting Flight

Today, in 1976, a Pan Am Boeing 747SP completed a record-setting flight around the world.

06/02/1910: First Double Crossing of the English Channel

Charles Rolls became the first person to fly a nonstop double crossing of the English Channel.

The History of Los Angeles International Airport

With an area of nearly 3,000 acres being used for airport operations, LAX has grown to vastly dwarf the site it once occupied.

6/01/1981: First Flight of the Prototype Short 360

This is the story of the 36-seat Short 360, from its maiden flight to its recent operations.

The History of John F. Kennedy International Airport

JFK is New York City's main gateway, handling 171,000 passengers a day across approximately 1,200 daily flight movements.

The History of Boston Logan International Airport

Thanks to the decline of sea travel, Boston quickly became one of the United States’ most important hubs for air travel.

5/31/1946: London Heathrow Begins Commercial Operations

Today, in 1946, London Heathrow Airport officially opened for commercial air operations.

5/30/1958: First Flight of the Douglas DC-8

This is the story of the legendary DC-8, from its inception to its first flight in 1958.

5/29/1934: First UK Airmail Service Begins Operations

Discover the history and legacy of the first regular airmail service in the UK, which began in 1934.

5/28/1971: First Flight of Dassault Aviation Mercure

This is the story of the Dassault Aviation Mercure project, spanning from 1971 to 1995.

5/27/1999: Maiden Flight of the Bombardier CRJ700

This is the story of the 70-seat stretched version of the CRJ200 Bombardier aircraft.

5/26/1929: Junkers W 33 Sets World Altitude Record

This is the story of how the German-built Junkers W 33 set a world altitude record in 1929.

5/25/1937: First Flight of the Gasuden Koken

Today, in 1937, the Japanese Gasuden Koken, aka the Kōken-ki, made its maiden flight.

5/24/1976: Two Concorde Land at Washington Dulles

48 years ago, two Concorde SSTs landed at Washington Dulles Airport on the same day.

The History of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

In the shadows of the Cascade Mountains, Seattle-Tacoma is for many the gateway to the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

5/23/1924: Canada’s First Scheduled Air Service

This is how Laurentide Air Service began to offer regular airmail, passenger, and freight service.

5/22/1906: Wright Brothers' “Flying Machine” Patent

Today, in 1906, the Wright brothers were granted U.S. Patent 821,393 for their "Flying Machine."

5/21/1946: KLM's Maiden Transatlantic Flight

Today, in 1946, a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines DC-4 took off from Amsterdam bound for New York.

5/20/1932: First Female Solo Transatlantic Flight

This is how Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop solo across the Atlantic.

5/19/2008: First Flight of the Sukhoi Superjet 100

Today, in 2008, the first all-new commercial aircraft in post-Soviet Russia took to the skies for the first time.

1/25/2020: Boeing 777X Completes Maiden Flight