On This Day in Aviation History

January 12, 2013
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First Pan Am 747 Lands At Heathrow: January 12 in Aviation History

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By: NYCAviation Staff
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2005 - The Deep Impact space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral aboard a Delta II rocket. Its mission is to collide with and analyze the composition of the comet 9P/Tempel, which it would complete successfully in June 2005.

1997 - Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on mission STS-81 enroute to the Mir space station.

1991 - The US Congress authorizes the use of military force to expel Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

1986 - As Space Shuttle Columbia launches on mission STS-61C, Mission Specialist/Congressman Bill Nelson becomes the second sitting member of Congress to orbit the earth.

1979 - Pilatus Aircraft acquires Britten-Norman.

1975 - British Airways inaugurates Europe’s first no-reservations-needed shuttle, flying between London and Glasgow.

1973 - A US Navy F-4 Phantom scores the 197th and final US air-to-air victory of the Vietnam War.

1970 - Pan Am flies the first 747 ever delivered, Clipper Victor (reg: N736PA) on a proving flight between New York and London, which in the process becomes the first widebody aircraft to land at Heathrow Airport. Commercial service would commence on January 21st.

1969 - The New York Jets, so named in honor of the airport (LaGuardia) next to their Shea Stadium home, win Super Bowl III over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

1939 - RAF forms the Auxiliary Air Force.