AviTech Reader

 

 

 

 

 

In as much as we appreciate the fuel economy brought out by the retractable landing gear, most of us fail to give credit to the history behind it. Here we go back to 1920 (USA), the day when American pilot Howard Rinehart, flying a Dayton-Wright R.B Racer, became the first person to fly an airplane fitted with retractable landing gear.

In 28 (USA), we focus on height records. We know that they later became very imperative for spying purposes and weather studies. On this day, Lt. J.A. Macready, USAS, made a world altitude record, indicated altitude of 40,800 feet, true altitude above sea level 37,800 feet, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, in the same Packard Lepere biplane supercharger that Major Rudolph Schroeder had used to set the former record of indicated altitude 38,180 feet and corrected altitude above sea level of 33,000 feet, over Dayton, Ohio, February 1920.

Back in 1924 (USA), two Army Douglas World Cruisers completed Air Service's 175 day circumnavigation of the world.

Finally in 1934, Lufthansa, Germany's national airline flew its millionth customer. Lufthansa is currently being ranked as the third best airliner in the world and the best trans-atlantic airliner according to this site.