On This Day in Aviation History: August 19th

U.S. Navy's ZMC-2 metal skinned airship.

1871, Orville Wright is born in Dayton, Ohio.

1911, a British naval officer sets a new flight endurance record of 4 hours, 58 minutes, 30 seconds, in a Short S. 38 biplane fitted with extra fuel tanks.

1919, a Curtiss 18 T Wasp sets a new speed record of 163mph while carrying a full load of nearly 1100lbs.

1929, the U.S. Navy’s first—and only successful—metal airship, the ZMC-2, makes its first flight.

1940, the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber makes its first test flight.

1960, Belka and Strelka the Russian space dogs are launched into orbit aboard Sputnik 5, returning to Earth safely the following day.

1969, Embraer is founded by Brazil’s Ministry of Aeronautics.

1980, Saudia Flight 163, a Lockheed L-1011-200 TriStar, burns at Riyadh, killing all 301 on board. The plane had actually made a safe emergency landing after the crew received indications of a fire in the cargo compartment, but a delay by the crew in evacuating the plane, combined with the emergency service’s inability to open the doors for a long period of time, caused the passengers and crew to die of burns and smoke inhalation.

2002, a Russian Air Force Mil Mi-26 helicopter is shot down by a Chechen missile while flying over Grozny. All 118 soldiers on board are killed.

2005, air, naval and ground forces take part in the first ever joint military exercise between Russia and China.

JetBlue Bird Strike Forces Emergency Landing at Westchester Airport [with ATC Audio]

A JetBlue flight hit birds while taking off from Westchester County Airport Tuesday evening, immediately returning to the airport for an emergency landing. No one was injured.

Doolittle Reunion: Massive Gathering of B-25 Bombers Takes Off in Ohio

The first day of the Doolittle Raiders reunion was dampened by record rainfall, but day two featured 20 amazing old aircraft soaring in front of 10,000 excited enthusiasts.

Hubble Space Telescope is Launched, Longest Flight by a UAV: April 24th in Aviation History

Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope on Space Shuttle Discovery, a Global Hawk UAV flies from California to Australia nonstop, heli-logging pioneers Columbia Helicopters is founded, LOT Polish Airlines launches service to New Y...

Pan Am Orders 25 Boeing 747s, Apollo 13 Suffers ‘A Problem’: April 13th in Aviation History

"Houston, we have a problem." Also, Republic Airways says it will dump the Midwest brand in favor of Frontier, Apollo an AeroUnion Airbus A300 crashes in Mexico, the Bremen makes the first westbound transatlantic crossing, and ...

April 11th in Aviation History: World’s Youngest Pilot Dies in Plane Crash, China Releases US Navy Airmen

Seven-year-old "pilot" Jessica Dubroff is killed in a plane crash, Apollo 13 launches, Air India's Kashmir Princess is bombed, and more...

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