1931: Imperial Airways begins scheduled services from England to Africa using Armstrong Whitworth Argosys.
1940: The US Air Defense Command is formed at Mitchell Field, New York.
1941: Asia’s oldest airline, Philippine Airlines, is founded.
1941: Eastern Air Lines Flight 21 crashed near Atlanta, almost killing Eddie Rickenbacker, who was traveling on airline business. His recovery in the hospital received broad press coverage; during his initial recovery several news reports claimed that he had died.
1949: A Boeing B-50 makes first nonstop refueled flight around world. American Capt. James Gallagher and Luck Lady II crew cover 23,452 miles (37,742 km) in 94 hours 1 minute and are refueled in flight four times.
1954: Piedmont Airlines carries its one millionth passenger after 6 years of scheduled service
1955: The first supersonic ejection takes place when North American test pilot George F. Smith ejects himself from his diving F-100 off Laguna Beach, California. He is unconscious for five days but recovers.
1975: First flight of the Cessna 404 Titan N5404J.
1977: 1st flight of Space Shuttle (atop a Boeing 747).
1979: The A-4 Skyhawk ends production after 26 years.
1979: Continental begins codesharing with Air France.
1979: Last total eclipse of Sun in 20th century for continental US.
1987: NASA launches GEOS-H.
1998: Total solar eclipse in Venezuela-Pacific Ocean (4m09).