On This Day in Aviation History

On This Day in Aviation History

1901 – Birth of Sir Francis Charles Chichester, British aviator and sailor.

1916 – Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, scores his first victory, with an Albatros D.II over a Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b over Cambrai, France.

1941 – First operational sortie by a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is made by a PR Mk I unarmed version for a photo reconnaissance mission; it evades a trio of Messerschmitt Bf 109s at 23,000 feet.

1965 – Pan Am Flight 292, the Boeing 707 “Clipper Constitution,” flies into Chances Peak on the island of Montserrat, killing all 30; the crew’s navigational error and descent below the safe minimum altitude while unsure of their position causes the crash.

1977 – Death of Lawrence Kingsley Callahan, American World War I flying ace who also served in World War II.

1984 – First flight of the Avtek 400 (shown), an American turboprop-powered business aircraft; designed by Al Mooney, the low-wing prototype has two pusher engines mounted above the wings, plus a large canard mounted atop the forward fuselage.

Updated: September 17, 2014 — 11:08 AM

1 Comment

  1. Airwolf vs X400!!!

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