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Period: 800 BCE to 899 BCE
Gunpowder developed in China
Gunpowder is believed to have been developed in China in the 9th century as a result of early alchemy. This helped fuel man's imagination of flight. -
Period: to
The First Wind Tunnel
Francis Herbert Wenham -
First Steam-Powered Flight
Samuel P. Langley successfully launched the first steam-powered aircraft over the Potomac River. This is significant because this is the first powered flight ever. -
First Flight of Rigid Airships
The first flight of the rigid airship called a Zepplin, being one of the worlds first powered, controllable airships. -
First Fixed Wing Flight
The Wright Brothers completed the first ever manned-flight on a fixed wing aircraft. This is significant because this was the first time ever that man has flown in a plane. -
First Helicopter Flight
Jacques and Louis Breguet flew the first ever helicopter on the 14th of August, 1907. The Gyroplane lifted its pilot 2 feet into the air for a minute. This is significant because it's the first evidence of people experimenting with rotary aircraft. -
U.S. Airmail Opening
The first U.S air mail was carried from Nassau to New York, this marks the first use of airplanes fir Mail officially recognized by the government. -
World War 1 Starts
World War 1 started and the aviation industry is starting to move forward with new technology. Proving War always pushes forward human innovation. -
The Wright Brothers Registered for a Patent
The Wright Brothers apply for patents on their flying machine and glider. -
Army Air Corps started
An aviation branch of the US military was opened on July 2nd 1926. It was headquarterd in Washington D.C. and was the only air branch of the United States armed forces until the creation of the Air Force -
Spirit of st. Louis
Charles Lindbergh flew solo acrossed the Atlantic ocean. -
First Solo Crossing of the Atlantic by Air
This was the first non-stop flight over the Atlantic ever. Charles Lindbergh was flying his Spirit of St. Louis plane when he made the trip. He flew from New York to Paris. This was significant because it was the first solo non-stop flight over the Atlantic. -
First Pressurized Aircraft
The Boeing 307 Stratoliner was the first commercial transport aircraft to enter service with a pressurized cabin. First flown on the 31st of December in 1938, the plane wasn't introduced until July 4th of 1940 -
First Full Year Without Incident
Airlines based in the United States went a full year of flying without any injury to passengers or plane personnel. This is significant because it is a landmark in the safeness of planes. -
The U.S. Army Air force is formed
This day the U.S. came together to from an military for the air. -
First Time Breaking the Sound Barrier
Chuck Yeager, flying the experimental X-1, broke the sound barrier for the first time in human history. The flight was over the Rogers Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert. These flights were a series of tests conducted by the US Government. -
First Hypersonic-flow Wind Tunnel
The first every hypersonic wind tunnel was put into operation on this date. This is significant because it lead to the testing of hypersonic flight. -
The U.S. drops the biggest bomb
The U.S. drops the largest bomb weighing in at 21 tons form a B-29. -
First Jet to Make World-wide Flight
The first jet to complete a full rotation of the Earth completed it's flight on this day. -
Nasa's First Launch
NASA launches their first rocket into space the pioneer 1. -
First Human Lunar Landing
This is the first landing of humans on the moon. This is significant because this was the first in-depth exploration of space and the conditions there. -
Apollo 15
Fourth lunar landing , first use of the lunar rover. -
NASA Space Shuttle Program
NASA announces their first space shuttle program. Furthering space exploration. -
F-15
The first flight of the f-15 eagle. -
GPS
The globe positioning system was created, and is used in aircraft. -
Mars polar landing
The mars polar landing was launched on this day. -
Terrorists Hijack Plane
Terrorists fly 2 hijacked planes into the sides of the Twin Towers. The reason this event is significant is because almost all airspace/travel security is credited to this event. -
Webkinz Adds a Hot Air Balloon
This is significant because the online MMORPG Webkinz, finally released a purchasable air balloon in their game which marks one of the biggest companies in the world officially recognizing the use of hot air balloons. -
US Government Invests in the Future of UAVs
An outside company wins the Pentagon Global UAV Contract. The contract was to modernize, maintain, and continue the development of UAVs. The US Government shows major interest in UAVs. -
US Government Invests in Future of Long-Range Bombers
The Pentagon releases info that Northrop Grumman has been given a multi-billion contract to create and design the next-generation Long Range Bombers for the use by the U.S. Air Force. -
FAA Rules to Regulate Commercial and Personal Drones
On this day the FAA passed a law requiring citizens to register and license their drone. This is one of the first few laws passed on the topic of drones. -
Skylab unmanned aircraft
Skylab launches there first unmanned aircraft on this date.
