1773: George Cayley is born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. Pioneer of early aviation regarded by many as the father of flight. His glider takes his coachman on the first manned flight in 1853.

1949: US carriers American Airlines and TWA begin coast-to coast coach-class flights with 60-passenger DC-4s, charging US $110 one-way.

1952: All Nippon Airways founded.---Apollo Program: Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean,ending the first manned orbital mission to the moon.

1992: USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons shoot down an Iraqi Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 in Southern Iraq's "no fly zone.”