On This Day In Aviation History

Threads about the world of aviation outside of airshows. General aviation, airlines, spotting, etc.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:08 pm

On this date in 1996 three B-2 Spirit stealth bombers destroyed 16 targets with 16 smart bombs at the Nellis AFB range.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Oct 08, 2021 10:52 pm

On this date in 1940 the XF4U-1 Corsair prototype established a speed record of 405 miles per hour- surpassing the 400 maek for the first time.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat Oct 09, 2021 11:48 pm

ON this date in 1999 the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird flew for the last time.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat Oct 09, 2021 11:49 pm

On this date in 1986 the Agusta-Westland EH101 (AW101) Merlin flew for the first time.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sun Oct 10, 2021 3:58 pm

On this date in 1956 the Lockheed L1649 Starliner flew for the first time. She was the ultimate Connie.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Oct 11, 2021 5:18 pm

On this day in 1990 the Rockwell-MBB X-31 flew for the first time.

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Oct 11, 2021 5:22 pm

In our more obscure aircraft file, #OTD in 1938, the Westland Whirlwind made its first flight. At the time, it was one of the fastest combat aircraft in the world and with four 20 mm cannon in its nose, one of the most heavily armed.
Unfortunately, development problems with the Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines delayed the project, and later, needing to focus on the Merlin and Vulture, RR had to give up on Peregrine production. The Whirlwind was incapable of using a larger engine without a significant redesign and it took nearly three times as much alloy to build as a Spitfire, so few were built before production finally had to be halted in 1942.
Did you know about the Whirlwind?
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:14 pm

On this date in 2000 the Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off on the 100th Space Shuttle mission.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:25 pm

On this date in 2011 the 747-8F went into service with Cargolux.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:32 pm

On This Day In Aviation History

1976 - First flight of the Sikorsky S-72 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-72]
Last edited by n33d4sp33d_85 on Wed Oct 13, 2021 12:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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