1955 in aviation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1955:
Contents |
[edit] Events
- The United Kingdom's first atomic bomber unit, the Royal Air Force's No. 138 Squadron, becomes operational, flying Vickers Valiants.[1]
[edit] January
- January 11 – Two Royal Air Force No. 42 Squadron Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft disappear without trace during a routine exercise off Fastnet Rock on the southwest coast of Ireland, and are presumed to have collided in mid-air. An engine from one of the aircraft finally will be found in 1966.
- January 12 – A Trans World Airlines Martin 2-0-2A collides in mid-air just after takeoff from Boone County Airport (later Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport) in Hebron, Kentucky, with a privately owned Douglas DC-3 which has strayed into controlled airspace without clearance. Both aircraft crash, killing all 13 people aboard the TWA plane and both people on the DC-3.
[edit] February
- February 13 – A Sabena Douglas DC-6 crashes on Mount Terminillo, near Rieti, Italy, killing 29 people, including actress and model Marcella Mariani.
- February 19 – Trans World Airlines Flight 260, a Martin 404, crashes in the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico, killing all 16 people on board.
- February 26 – George F. Smith becomes the first person to survive a supersonic ejection, from a North American F-100 Super Sabre travelling at Mach 1.05.
[edit] March
- March 10 – Pakistan International Airlines is formed.
- March 20 – American Airlines Flight 711, a Convair CV-240, strikes the ground during final approach at Springfield, Missouri, killing 13 of the 35 on board.
- March 22 – A United States Navy Douglas DC-6 hits a cliff in Honolulu, killing 66. It is the worst air disaster in the history of Hawaii.
- March 25 – During a test flight with afterburner, the Lockheed XF-104 achieves a speed of Mach 1.79 (1,324 mph, 2,130 km.hr).[2]
- March 26 – The number three propeller and engine detach from the Pan American World Airways Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10-26 Clipper United States, operating as Flight 845/26 with 23 people on board, forcing it to ditch in the Pacific Ocean 35 miles (58 km) off the coast of Oregon, killing four people. The United States Navy attack transport USS Bayfield (APA-33) rescues the 19 survivors about two hours later.
[edit] April
- A Cunard Line report assesses that airlines do not pose a threat to the transatlantic ocean liner business because political interference with airline routes prevents aircraft from having the freedom of navigation that ships enjoy.[3]
- April 1 – Post-World War II bans on powered flight in West Germany are lifted and Lufthansa resumes operations.
- April 4 – The United Airlines Douglas DC-6 Mainliner Idaho crashes shortly after taking off from Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, Islip, New York, on an instrument rating check flight due to an inadvertent reversal of the pitch of the propeller on number 4 engine. The plane is carrying no passengers; all three crew members on board die.
- April 11 – A bomb detonates aboard the Air India Lockheed L-749A Constellation Kashmir Princess, which is carrying delegates to the Bandung Conference in Djakarta, Indonesia. The aircraft explodes in mid-air and crashes into the South China Sea, killing 16 of the 19 people on board. Kuomintang agents had planted the bomb in a failed attempt to assassinate Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who had changed his travel plans and is not on the plane.
[edit] June
- Frank N. Piasecki forms the Piasecki Aircraft Corporation.[4]
- June 16 - As part of an attempted coup against President Juan Perón, Argentine Naval Aviation and Argentine Air Force aircraft bomb and strafe the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires and the adjacent Plaza de Mayo while a large crowd is gathered there to express support for Perón, killing 364 people and injuring over 800. The bombing of Plaza de Mayo is the largest aerial bombing ever to take place in mainland Argentina.[5]
- June 28 - Jean Moire lands a Bell 47 helicopter on top of Mont Blanc, at an altitude of 4,807 m (15,772 ft).
[edit] July
- July 1 - South Vietnam's air force, the Vietnam Air Force, is established.[6]
- July 26 - Capital Airlines adopts the Vickers Viscount, the first US airline to select a British airliner.
- July 27 - El Al Flight 402, a Lockheed Constellation, strays into Bulgarian air space and is shot down by Bulgarian Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighters. All 58 people aboard are killed.
[edit] August
- August 11 – Two United States Air Force C-119 Flying Boxcars collide near Stuttgart, Germany, killing 66.
- August 20 – Flying a U.S. Air Force North American F-100C Super Sabre, Horace A. Haines sets a world speed record of 822.135 mph (1,323.889 km/hr).[7]
- August 29 – An English Electric Canberra sets a new world altitude record of 65,876 ft (20,079 m).[8]
- August 31 – Lockheed Aircraft Corporation engineering test pilot Stanley Beltz is killed in a crash near Lancaster, California, while piloting an F-94B Starfire modified to test the nose section of the BOMARC missile.[9]
[edit] September
- September 3 - J. S. Fairfield makes the first ejection from an aircraft on the ground, escaping from a Gloster Meteor traveling at 120 mph (193 km/h) along a runway.
- September 9 - American Airlines, TWA, and United Airlines agree to adopt a domestic "Coach Class" for transcontinental flights across the United States.
- September 16 - Gloster Meteor aircraft of the Argentine Air Force attack the Argentine Navy destroyers Cervantes and La Rioja in the River Plate during the Revolución Libertadora against Juan Perón, inflicting numerous casualties.[10]
- September 18 - Argentine Naval Aviation aircraft attack an Argentine Army column during the Revolución Libertadora against Juan Perón, halting the column before it can capture a naval air base.[11]
[edit] October
- October 6 – A Douglas DC-4 operating as United Airlines Flight 409 crashes in the Medicine Bow Mountains near Centennial, Wyoming, killing all 66 on board.
- October 10 – Helicopters from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Saipan (CVL-48) play a key role in rescuing people stranded by flooding in Tampico, Mexico.
- October 16 – The Boeing 367-80 (a Boeing 707 prototype) crosses the United States in just 3 hours 58 minutes.
[edit] November
- November 1 – The Douglas DC-6B Mainliner Denver, operating as United Airlines Flight 629, is destroyed over Longmont, Colorado, by a bomb planted by Jack Gilbert Graham, who is attempting to cash in his mother's life insurance policies. All 44 on board are killed.
- November 22 – Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 drops the first Soviet thermo-nuclear bomb RDS-37 in Siberia.
[edit] December
- Royal Air Force Bomber Command becomes an all-jet operation upon the retirement of its last piston engine Avro Lancasters from bomber duty.
- December 4 – Glenn L. Martin, founder of the Glenn L. Martin Company, dies at age 69.
- December 13 – The de Havilland Comet 3, the world's first jet airliner, visits an American airport for the first time when it stops at Honolulu International Airport during an around-the-world flight. It then flies to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 5 hours 39 minutes.[12]
- December 15 – The de Havilland Mosquito flies its final operational sortie with the Royal Air Force.
[edit] First flights
[edit] February
- February 9 – Convair CV-540[13]
- February 14 – Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-2, prototype of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
[edit] March
- March 2 – Dassault Super Mystère
- March 12 – Aérospatiale Alouette II
- March 25 – Vought XF8U-1, prototype of the F8U Crusader,[14] in 1962 redesignated F-8 Crusader
[edit] April
- April 25 - FFA P-16 J-3001
[edit] May
- May 27 - Sud Caravelle
[edit] June
- June 17 - Tupolev Tu-104
- June 17 - Reynolds-Bensen B-8 gyro-glider prototype
- June 25 - Dassault Mirage I
- June 25 - Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
[edit] July
- July 14 – Martin XP6M-1 Seamaster, BuNo 138821
- July 22 – Republic XF-84H "Thunderscreech"[15]
- July 23 – PZL TS-8 Bies
[edit] August
- August 4 - Lockheed Article 001, prototype of the Lockheed U-2
[edit] September
- September 7 - Sukhoi S-1, prototype of Su-7
- September 20 - Nord 1500 Griffon
[edit] October
- October 6 – Convair CV-440 Metropolitan[13]
- October 22 – Republic YF-105A, prototype of the F-105 Thunderchief[16]
- October 25 – Saab J 35 Draken
[edit] November
- November - Cessna 172
- November 24 - Fokker F27
[edit] December
- December 6 - Bensen B-8M autogyro
- December 15 - Douglas DC-7
[edit] Entered service
[edit] January
- January 9 –Vickers Valiant with No. 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force
[edit] February
- Auster A.O.P. 9 with the Royal Air Force[17]
[edit] May
[edit] June
- June 29 – B-52 Stratofortress with the United States Air Force's 93rd Bomb Wing
[edit] References
- ^ Crosby, Francis, The Complete Guide to Fighters & Bombers of the World: An Illustrated History of the World's Greatest Military Aircraft, From the Pioneering Days of Air Fighting in World War I Through the Jet Fighters and Stealth Bombers of the Present Day, London: Anness Publishing Ltd., 2006, ISBN 13579108642, p. 288.
- ^ Angelucci, Enzo, The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft From 1917 to the Present, New York: Orion Books, 1987, p. 282.
- ^ Maxtone-Graham, John, The Only Way to Cross, New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997, ISBN 978-0-7607-0637-4, p. 409.
- ^ Polmar, Norman, "Historic Aircraft: The Flying Banana," Naval History, August 2010, p. 17.
- ^ Wikipedia Bombing of Plaza de Mayo article.
- ^ Chinnery, Philip D., Vietnam: The Helicopter War, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1991, ISBN 978-1-55750-875-1, p. 2.
- ^ Angelucci, Enzo, The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft From 1917 to the Present, New York: Orion Books, 1987, ISBN 978-0-517-56588-9, p. 352.
- ^ Donald, David, ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997, ISBN 978-0-7607-0592-6, p. 89.
- ^ Logan, Willy, "Death of a Quiet Birdman," Aviation History, September 2010, p. 21.
- ^ Scheina, Robert L., Latin America: A Naval History 1810-1987, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987, ISBN 978-0-87021-295-6, p. 213.
- ^ Scheina, Robert L., Latin America: A Naval History 1810-1987, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987, ISBN 978-0-87021-295-6, p. 215.
- ^ Aviation Hawaii: 1950-1959 Chronology of Aviation in Hawaii
- ^ a b Donald, David, ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997, ISBN 978-0-7607-0592-6, p. 273.
- ^ Angelucci, Enzo, The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft From 1917 to the Present, New York: Orion Books, 1987, ISBN 978-0-517-56588-9, p. 451.
- ^ Angelucci, Enzo, The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft From 1917 to the Present, New York: Orion Books, 1987, ISBN 978-0-517-56588-9, p. 404.
- ^ Angelucci, Enzo, The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft From 1917 to the Present, New York: Orion Books, 1987, ISBN 978-0-517-56588-9, p. 408.
- ^ Donald, David, ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997, ISBN 978-0-7607-0592-6, p. 70.
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