1909: In opening demonstration flights before the U.S. Army at Fort Myer, Virginia, Orville Wright makes the first flight with the new Wright A built to replace the one destroyed in September 1908.

1914: Glenn Curtiss takes up nine passengers in New York in his seaplane America, built for Rodman Wanamaker, to make an attempt on the £10,000 prize offered by the Daily Mail for the first transatlantic crossing in a heavier-than-air machine.

1948: The Air Parcel Post Bill becomes U.S. law, establishing domestic air parcel post and raising first class postage rates for air mail from five cents to six cents.

1955: The Boeing B-52 enters operational service with the 93rd Bomb Wing.

1960: The English Electric Lightning enters operational service with No. 74 Squadron RAF at RAF Coltishall.

1962: First flight of the Vickers VC-10.

1963: First flight of the Saab 105.

1977: Italian Professor Enrico Forlanini’s steam-powered helicopter is tested at Alexandria, Egypt.