AviTech Reader

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this day, we have a lot to think about. First, let us go to England in 1874 where there was an Italian diplomat, Vincenzo Lunardi. He made  the first ascent in a hydrogen balloon in Britain. Next, we now go to USA in 1904, here, Wilbur Wright in the airplane “Flyer II” made his first controlled half-circle while in flight.

We also go ahead to join the world in recognizing heroic acts. In1928 (USA),  Lt. Uzal G. Ent, Air Corps was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross award for his heroic conduct in the National Elimination Balloon Race on May 30, when Lieutenant Everet,the  pilot of his balloon, was struck by lightning. Ent remained with him in the burning balloon rather than assure his own safety by jumping with a parachute. On the same day, Universal Air Lines started daily passenger service between Chicago and Cleveland , a journey covering 313 miles.

In 1939(USA), Jacqueline Cochran, in a Seversky monoplane, powered by a 700-hp Pratt & Whitney “Wasp” engine  and set a new international speed record of 305.926 mph for 1,000 km on Burbank, San Francisco, Burbank course.

This brings us to my year of birth 1991, when McDonald Douglas C-17 “Globemaster III” made its first flight.