Military Archives - Page 119 of 180

On This Day in Aviation History

1852 – French engineer Henri Giffard flies the first powered and manned airship. Motivated by a steam engine and propeller, the airship flies at about 5 mph and covers 17 miles from Paris to Trappes, France. The craft marks the beginning of the practical airship. 1920 – Birth of Richard Ira “Dick” Bong, highest-scoring U.S. […]

Sikorsky to Begin Assembly of S-97 Prototype

Sikorsky is set to begin assembly of its S-97 Raider light attack helicopter this week and an announcement from the manufacturer is expected soon. A Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. spokesperson confirmed the schedule, which marks the imminent entry of Sikorsky in a market likely to give the manufacturer an edge, at least for now, over competition in […]

Light Planes Intercepted in NYC No-Fly Zone

Fighter jets escorted a private plane to Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall, N.J., on Monday afternoon after the federal government said it was one of three to enter a no-fly zone over the United Nations in New York City. Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted the three small planes and escorted them to area airports, […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1895 – Birth of Alexandre Albert Roger Bretillon, French World War I flying ace. 1911 – Earle Lewis Ovington, an American aeronautical engineer, aviator and inventor, pilots the first official airmail flight in the U.S. in a Blériot XI; he carries a sack of mail from Garden City, N.Y., to Mineola, N.Y. 1931 – A […]

U.S. Navy Seahawk Crashes, Two Missing

Three crew members aboard a U.S. Navy helicopter that crashed in the Red Sea on Sunday were found alive and in stable condition, the Navy said. Two others remained missing. The Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk was operating with the guided-missile destroyer U.S.S. William P. Lawrence when it went down in the central Red Sea, which lies […]

C-17 Production May Be Extended

Unless Boeing can sell a few more C-17 Globemaster III transports to international customers or strike a novel deal with the U.S. Air Force to swap old planes for new ones, the company will end production of the giant cargo plane in 2015 after a more than 20-year run. Trading old C-17s for new ones […]

DFC Recipient Who Saved Crew in WWII Dies

Wichita, Kans., resident Richard “Dick” Ayesh wasn’t the type to talk much about his experiences during World War II. In fact, it wasn’t until eight years ago his family found out exactly what happened in November 1944, when his Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was 15,000 feet in the air and he saved the lives of […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1894 – Birth of Charles Edward Murray Pickthorn, British World War I flying ace; he later downs an Albatros D.I, resulting in the capture of Crown Prince Frederich of Prussia. 1904 – Wilbur Wright makes the first-ever circuit flight, in the Flyer II. 1922 – The first flight over 200 mph is made by Sadi Lecointe in a Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 […]

RAF VC10s Complete Last Missions Today

The last operational Vickers VC10s, 1960s-era British airliners converted to aerial refueling tankers, will perform the type’s final flights for the Royal Air Force today before being retired from use. A final pair of Rolls-Royce Conway-engined VC10 tankers are due to conduct the sortie from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, bringing to an end a 47-year service life. Flown by personnel from 101 Squadron, […]

Millville Museum to Showcase Static Displays

The Millville Army Air Field Museum (MAAFM) in New Jersey will present its 6th Annual Aviation Celebration 2013 tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a rain date of Sunday. The static aircraft display event will commemorate Millville Airport’s important World War II aviation history as “America’s First Defense Airport.” Rare WWII warbirds, military aircraft, […]