1918: The British government establishes an air ministry. Lord Rothermere is Secretary of State for Air. Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard is Chief of the Air Staff.

1953: The first of an order of about 430 US Sabre fighters, the RAF’s first supersonic jet, arrives at RAF Abington, England.

1963: First flight of the Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander.

1967: In the biggest air battle to date in the Vietnam War, seven North Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s are destroyed by U.S. Air Force F-4C Phantom II fighters of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in Operation Bolo. Col. Robin Olds is the architect of the mission, which he led. Read more...

1967: The contracts for the development of the Boeing SST supersonic transport and its engines are awarded. Read more...

1989: Tupolev’s TU-204, the Soviet Union’s first airliner fitted with a fly-by-wire control system, makes its maiden flight. Read more...