On This Day in Aviation History

2012-04-09

Today in Aviation History: April 9th

The first Boeing 737-100 (N73700) in house colors. (Photo by Boeing)

2003 – Baghdad falls to the invading Allied forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1993 – Iraqi forces fire surface-to-air missiles at a US Air Force jet patrolling the country’s no-fly zone. The jets return fire, destorying the missile batteries.

1976 – Air France launches its second Concorde route, linking Paris to Caracas in six hours, including a fuel stop in the Azores.

1969 – The second Concorde, the first built in England, makes its maiden test flight.

1967 – Boeing’s new 737 narrow-body airliner makes its first test flight. The first 737-100 would be delivered 10 months later to launch customer Lufthansa. It has since gone on to become the best selling commercial aircraft in the world.

1960 – The Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya sets a world speed record for propeller-powered planes: 545.07 mph. The record is set in a 3,107 mile closed circuit over Russia, while carrying a 55,116-pound payload.

1940 – Germany makes extensive use of paratroopers during their invasions of Norway and Denmark.

1937 – The Kamikaze, a Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane, becomes the first Japanese aircraft to fly from Japan to Europe, completing the trip from Tokyo to London in 51 hours, 17 minutes and 23 seconds. Masaaki Iinuma is the pilot, with Kenji Tsukagoshi serving as navigator.

1929 – Air Union of France begins a nighttime service between Paris and London.

1914 – One of history’s first airborne attacks on naval vessels takes place in the Gulf of California, during the Mexican Revolution.



About the Author

NYCAviation Staff





 
 

 

The Mystique of the Boeing SST

I recently shelled out the most money I have ever paid for an airliner model in a lifetime of collecting. It is a five foot long needle-nosed monster with working variable sweep wings in Eastern Airlines colors. On its tail is ...
by Shea Oakley
1

 
 

Friday Photos: A Tribute to St. Maarten and St. Barthelemy

In the wake of the incredible devastation experienced by several islands in the Caribbean this week including St. Maarten and St. Barthelemy, we take a look back at some photos from both Princess Juliana International Airport a...
by Ben Granucci
0

 

 

Friday Photos: Special Liveries

This week for Friday Photos, we take a look as some of the many great photos of special liveries uploaded to the NYCAviation Photo Hangar.
by NYCAviation Staff
0

 
 

Forecast for an Air Show: The 14th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach

The 14th annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach takes to the skies this weekend. Here's a preview of what to expect at this year's show.
by Scott Snorteland
0

 
 

PHOTOS: Checking Out The Performers At The MCAS Beaufort Airshow

Correspondent David Lilienthal visited the MCAS Beaufort Airshow last weekend and shares his photos with us.
by David Lilienthal
0