1903 - 2003
100 Years of Powered Flight
A yearlong series of weekly PSAs

IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.IT WAS JANUARY FIRST 1914, JUST 10 YEARS AFTER THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLEW AT KITTY HAWK, WHEN THE FIRST REGULARLY SCHEDULED AIRLINE TOOK TO THE SKIES. LASTING JUST FOUR MONTHS, THE FLYING BOAT SERVICE SAFELY CARRIED 1200 PASSENGERS BETWEEN ST. PETERSBURG AND TAMPA, FLORIDA.

15 YEARS LATER, ON JANUARY FIRST 1929, MAJOR CARL “TOOEY” SPAATZ AND CAPTAIN IRA EAKER FIRST TESTED AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING, BEGINNING WHAT IS NOW A MAINSTAY OF MODERN MILITARY FLIGHT OPERATIONS.

AND AMERICAN MILITARY PILOTS REMEMBER JANUARY SECOND 1967 AS THE DAY ROBIN OLDS AND HIS RED RIVER RATS DOWNED SEVEN MIG-21’S OVER THE SKIES OF VIETNAM.

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WEEK 02 – JANUARY 5-11, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT TOOK A BOLD STEP TOWARD RACIAL EQUALITY DURING JANUARY OF 1941 WHEN IT ESTABLISHED THE 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON. BETTER KNOWN AS THE TUSKEEGEE AIRMEN, THIS BRAVE AND DEDICATED GROUP OF BLACK PILOTS WENT ON TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES BY NEVER LOSING A BOMBER THEY ESCORTED DURING WORLD WAR II.

THREE YEARS LATER, ON JANUARY EIGHTH 1944, THE P-80 SHOOTING STAR BECAME THE FIRST U.S. FIGHTER AIRCRAFT TO EXCEED 500 MILES PER HOUR IN LEVEL FLIGHT. AMAZINGLY, THE P-80 TOOK JUST 143 DAYS TO DEVELOP.

AND IT WAS JANUARY 6TH, 1978 WHEN THE U.S AIR FORCE ADDED THE FIRST F-16 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT TO ITS ARSENAL.

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WEEK 03 - JANUARY 12-18, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JANUARY 17TH, 1929 MARKED THE DAY THAT MAJOR CARL “TOOEY” SPAATZ, AFTER ENDURING A FUEL SPILL IN THE AIR, WORE NOTHING BUT GOGGLES, A PARACHUTE AND A GRIN AS HE SET THE ENDURANCE RECORD FOR AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING OF 150 HOURS, AND 40 MINUTES. SPAATZ AND TEAMMATE CAPTAIN IRA EAKER WOULD GO ON TO LEAD AMERICAN AIR FORCES IN BATTLE DURING WORLD WAR II.

AND ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 17TH, 1991 AMERICANS TUNED TO CNN TO WATCH AS OPERATION DESERT STORM BEGAN IN THE SKIES OVER BAGHDAD. DURING THE FIRST 14 HOURS OF AIRSTRIKES, COALITION FORCES FLEW MORE THAN 1200 COMBAT MISSIONS AND LAUNCHED 106 CRUISE MISSILES.

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WEEK 04 - JANUARY 19-25, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

ON JANUARY 21ST 1974, THE STILL EXPERIMENTAL
F-16 FIGHTER JET MADE ITS FIRST UNPLANNED FLIGHT. DURING A HIGH-SPEED TAXI TEST, THE AIRCRAFT UNEXPECTEDLY LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY. IN A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKE OFF AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING. THE OFFICIAL TAKE OFF TOOK PLACE TWELVE DAYS LATER.

IT WAS JANUARY 25TH, 1990 WHEN THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM SERVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME. BLACKBIRD CREWS FLEW MORE THAN 65 MILLION MILES - HALF OF WHICH WERE FLOWN AT THREE TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND. THE OFFICIAL TOP SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT REMAINS CLASSIFIED.

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WEEK 05 - JANUARY 26-01, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

FEBRUARY 1ST, 1961: THE FIRST MINUTEMAN INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE WAS LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. THE WORLD’S FIRST SOLID-FUELED ICBM TRAVELED 4600 MILES - AND HIT ITS TARGET.

AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 27TH, 1967 TOOK THE LIVES OF U.S. ASTRONAUTS GUS GRISSOM, ROGER CHAFFEE AND EDWARD WHITE III WHEN A FLASH FIRE IN THEIR APOLLO 1 COMMAND MODULE ERUPTED DURING A GROUND TEST.

NINETEEN YEARS LATER, TRADGEDY AGAIN STRUCK THE U.S SPACE PROGRAM WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER EXPLODED 73 SECONDS AFTER LIFTOFF, KILLING ALL SEVEN ABOARD, INCLUDING SCHOOL TEACHER CHRISTA MCAULIFFE. IT WAS JANUARY 28TH, 1986.

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WEEK 06 - FEBRUARY 02-08, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

FEBRUARY 4TH 1946 MARKED THE DAY THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION WAS INCORPORATED IN WASHINGTON DC. FRESH OUT OF WORLD WAR II, GENERALS AND AIRMEN ALIKE FROM THE ARMY AIR CORPS FELT THE ASSOCIATION WAS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE OLD GANG TOGETHER. AFA LEADERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDED HOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN BOMBER PILOT JIMMY STEWART, LOBBIED CONGRESS TO CREATE A SEPARATE AIRPOWER-BASED SERVICE. THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE CELEBRATED ITS INAGURATION 20 MONTHS LATER.

THIRTEEN YEARS LATER, AS THE COLD WAR WITH THE SOVIET UNION ESCALATED; THE U.S AIR FORCE LAUNCHED A PROTOTYPE OF THE TITAN INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE ON FEBRUARY 6TH, 1959 FROM PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA.

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WEEK 07 - FEBRUARY 09-15, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE 747 JUMBO JET MADE ITS INAGURAL FLIGHT ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 1969. WITH STANDARD SEATING FOR 347, THE 747 INTRODUCED HIGH PASSENGER VOLUME TO THE WORLD’S AIRWAYS. WHICH AIRLINE?

IT’S BECOME THE MODERN DAY COMPASS: THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SATELLITE, AND ON FEBRUARY 14TH, 1989, A DELTA II SPACE BOOSTER LAUNCHED ONE INTO ORBIT FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA ON ITS FIRST ATTEMPT.

AND ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 1994, LIEUTENANT JEANNIE FLYNN, THE FIRST WOMAN SELECTED FOR U.S. AIR FORCE COMBAT PILOT TRAINING, PAVED THE WAY FOR FUTURE FEMALE FLYERS BY COMPLETING HER ADVANCED F-15 FIGHTER TRAINING.

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WEEK 08 - FEBRUARY 16-22, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

FRENCH PILOT JULES VEDRINES WAS THE FIRST TO BREAK THE 100 MILE PER HOUR AIRSPEED BARRIER ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 1912, SETTING THE RECORD AT 100.22 MILES PER HOUR.

FIFTY YEARS LATER, ON FEBRUARY 20TH, 1962, AMERICANS BOTH YOUNG AND OLD WATCHED ON TELEVISION AS MARINE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN GLENN JR. BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN ASTRONAUT TO ORBIT THE EARTH. DESPITE A HEAT SHIELD PROBLEM WITH HIS FRIENDSHIP SEVEN CAPSULE, GLENN CHEATED DEATH AND SUCCESFULLY COMPLETED THE NEARLY FIVE-HOUR MISSION.

FINALLY, WHO NEEDS DIRECTIONS? IT WAS FEBRUARY 22ND, 1978, WHEN THE FIRST TEST SATELLITE IN THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM WAS LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT.

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WEEK 09 - FEBRUARY 23-01, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, A HUMAN VOICE WAS TRANSMITTED FROM AN AIRPLANE TO THE GROUND BY RADIOTELEPHONE IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. IT TOOK PLACE ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 1917.

THREE YEARS LATER, ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 1920, MAJOR R.W. SCHROEDER SET THE WORLD ALTITUDE RECORD OF 33,114 FEET IN HIS PACKARD – LEPERE BIPLANE.

AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY ENTERED THE TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTER AGE ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 1955, WHEN THE HU-1 IROQUOIS, OR “THE HUEY” AS ITS CALLED TODAY, WAS ADDED TO ITS INVENTORY. THE HUEY WAS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS THE WORKHORSE OF THE ARMY.

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WEEK 10 – MARCH 02-08, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MARCH 2ND, 1910 MARKED THE DAY THAT LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN FOULIS, A FORMER MILITARY BALLOONIST, MADE HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN ARMY AIRPLANE NUMBER ONE OVER THE PARADE GROUNDS AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS. REMARKABLY, FOULIS TAUGHT HIMSELF TO FLY THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, AND HE ACCOMPLISHED HIS SOLO FLIGHT IN AN AIRCRAFT HE AND HIS GROUNDCREW ASSEMBLED ONE MONTH PRIOR.

GIVING MEANING TO THE TERM AIRMAIL, PILOTS NORMAN RINTOUL AND VICTOR YESULANTES DEMONSTRATED THE FIRST KNOWN NONSTOP SYSTEM BY PICKING A MAIL SACK OFF A POLE COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA WITHOUT LANDING. IT WAS MARCH 5TH, 1939.

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WEEK 11 - MARCH 09-15, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MARCH 15TH, 1916: AIRPOWER TOOK ITS FIRST ROLE IN CRIMEFIGHTING WHEN GENERAL JOHN “BLACKJACK” PERSHING COMMANDED THE FIRST AERO SQUADRON DURING THE HUNT FOR THE ELUSIVE PANCHO VILLA ALONG THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER.

IT WAS MARCH 10TH, 1956 WHEN PETER TWIST BROKE THE 1,000 MILE PER HOUR AIRSPEED BARRIER, HITTING 1,132.13 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAIREY DELTA 2 RESEARCH AIRCRAFT AT SUSSEX, ENGLAND.

39 YEARS LATER, ON MARCH 15TH, 1995, THE WORLD’S LARGEST AEROSPACE CONTRACTOR WAS FORMED WHEN LOCKHEED AND MARTIN MARIETTA MERGED TO BECOME LOCKHEED MARTIN.

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WEEK 12 - MARCH 16-22, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS MARCH 16TH, 1926 WHEN ROBERT H. GODDARD LAUNCHED THE WORLD’S FIRST LIQUID FUELED ROCKET AT AUBURN, MASSACHUSETTS. GODDARD IS THE NAMESAKE OF NASA’S GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER IN MARYLAND.

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER ON MARCH 22ND, 1941, THE FIRST BLACK FLYING UNIT, THE 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON WAS ACTIVATED. IT BECAME ONE OF THREE SQUADRONS OF THE 332ND FIGHTER GROUP KNOWN AS THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

AND ON MARCH 18TH, 1954, THE FIRST B-52 BOMBER ROLLED OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. ALTHOUGH PRODUCTION ENDED IN 1962, THE B-52 REMAINS IN SERVICE WITH THE U.S AIR FORCE – 49 YEARS LATER.

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WEEK 13 - MARCH 23-29, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS MARCH 3RD, 1903 WHEN THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FILED THEIR POWERED AIRPLANE DESIGN WITH THE U.S. PATENT OFFICE. THE NEW AIRCRAFT WAS BASED ON THEIR 1902 GLIDER AND MADE AVIATION HISTORY WITH THREE SUCCESSFUL FLIGHTS LATER IN THE YEAR.

62 YEARS LATER, ON MARCH 23RD, 1965, AIR FORCE MAJOR VIRGIL “GUS” GRISSOM BECAME THE FIRST U.S. ASTRONAUT IN THE MANNED SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM TO GO INTO ORBIT FOR THE SECOND TIME, AS HE AND NAVY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN YOUNG SPENT FOUR HOURS AND 53 MINUTES MAKING THREE ORBITS AROUND THE EARTH IN THE GEMINI 3 SPACECRAFT. THIS HISTORICAL MISSION ALSO MARKED THE FIRST TIME A SPACECRAFT’S ORBIT WAS CHANGED IN SPACE.

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WEEK 14 - APRIL 30-05, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MARCH 30TH, 1928: ITALIAN MAJOR MARIO BERNARDI PUSHED THE SPEED RECORD PAST 300-MILES PER HOUR, REACHING AN AIRSPEED OF 318 MILES PER HOUR OVER VENICE, ITALY.

31 YEARS LATER, AMERICANS WERE INTRODUCED TO THE FIRST U.S. ASTRONAUTS. IT WAS APRIL 2ND, 1959, WHEN SEVEN TEST PILOTS FROM THE AIR FORCE, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS WERE CHOSEN OUT OF 110 CANDIDATES TO BE THE PROJECT MERCURY ASTRONAUTS. THEY WERE GORDON COOPER, GUS GRISSOM, DEKE SLAYTON, WALY SCHIRRA, ALAN SHEPARD, SCOTT CARPENTER AND JOHN GLENN, AND THEY BECOME INSTANT HEROES AS THE COLD WAR SPACE RACE WITH THE SOVIETS HEATED UP.

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WEEK 15 - APRIL 06-12, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

APRIL 12TH, 1959 MARKED THE DAY WHEN THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION’S WORLD CONGRESS OF FLIGHT WAS HELD IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. IT WAS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW IN U.S. HISTORY WITH FIFTY-ONE FOREIGN NATIONS PARTICIPATING.

TWO YEARS LATER, ON APRIL 12TH, 1961, THE SOVIET UNION STUNNED THE WORLD WITH THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL MANNED SPACE FLIGHT. COSMONAUT YURI GAGARIN WAS NOT ONLY HISTORY’S FIRST SPACEMAN, HE ALSO BECAME THE FIRST PERSON TO ORBIT THE EARTH.

20 YEARS TO THE DAY LATER, THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM LAUNCHED THE WORLD’S FIRST REUSABLE MANNED SPACECRAFT WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA MADE ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT WITH ASTRONAUTS JOHN YOUNG AND ROBERT CRIPPEN ABOARD. IT WAS APRIL 12TH, 1981.

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WEEK 16 - APRIL 13-19, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

APRIL 18TH, 1942: IN A DARING ATTACK THAT BECAME KNOWN AS 10 MINUTES OVER TOKYO, SIXTEEN B-25 BOMBERS TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS HORNET AND HEADED FOR THE JAPANESE MAINLAND. THE BOMBING RUN WAS A ONE-WAY MISSION FROM THE HORNET, WITH CREWS LANDING IN CHINA AFTER THE MISSION. LIEUTENANT COLONEL JIMMY DOOLITTLE WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS ROLE.

AND ON APRIL 11TH, 1970, THE U.S, SPACE PROGRAM NARROWLY ESCAPED DISASTER AFTER AN EXPLOSION IN THE APOLLO 13 SERVICE MODULE CRIPPLED THE SPACECRAFT, FORCING THE CREW TO USE THE LUNAR MODULE AS A LIFEBOAT ON THE JOURNEY BACK TO EARTH. AFTER A TENSE FOUR DAYS, THE APOLLO 13 CREW SAFELY SPLASHED DOWN IN THE PACIFIC.

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WEEK 17 - APRIL 20-26, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MOTION PICTURE TOOK FLIGHT ON APRIL 24TH, 1909 WHEN THE FIRST AERIAL FILM SHOOT WAS CONDUCTED WITH WILBUR WRIGHT AT THE CONTROLS OF A WRIGHT BIPLANE.

29 YEARS LATER ON APRIL 22ND, 1938, WORLD WAR I ACE EDDIE RICKENBACKER PURCHASED A MAJORITY STAKE IN EASTERN AIRLINES FOR $3.5 MILLION, WHICH IN TODAY’S DOLLARS, ROUGHLY COVERS THE COST OF A SINGLE ENGINE FROM A 747 JUMBO JET.

AND IT WAS APRIL 25TH, 1997 WHEN THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION HOSTED AIR FORCE FIFTY IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. A CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE, THE FOUR-DAY EVENT WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW.

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WEEK 18 - APRIL 27-03, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

PILOT ROBERT G. FOWLER AND HIS CAMERAMAN MADE THE FIRST FLIGHT ACROSS THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA ON APRIL 27TH, 1913. BUT THE NOTABLE EVENT WAS SOURED WHEN THEIR STORY AND PHOTOS OF THE ADVENTURE APPEARED IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER, PROMPTING PANAMANIAN AUTHORITIES TO ARREST BOTH MEN FOR MAKING AN UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHT.

IT WAS APRIL 27TH, 1986 WHEN THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION’S GATHERING OF EAGLES TOOK PLACE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. A NOTABLE HIGHLIGHT WAS THE ATTENDENCE OF VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THREE DIFFERENT WARS.

AND 9 YEARS TO THE DAY LATER, THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM BECAME FULLY OPERATIONAL SEVENTEEN YEARS AFTER THE FIRST GPS TEST SATELLITE WAS LAUNCHED. IT WAS APRIL 27TH, 1995.

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WEEK 19 – MAY 04-10, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WASN’T THE FLYING CIRCUS, BUT A PAIR OF RECORDS BY LAURA INGALLS ON MAY 30, 1930 COULD’VE LANDED HER THE JOB. ON THAT DAY, LAURA PERFORMED 344 CONSECUTIVE LOOPS, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARD, FOLLOWED THAT FEAT BY COMPLETING 980 MORE. IN A LATER FLIGHT, SHE ACCOMPLISHED 714 BARREL-ROLLS, SETTING A PAIR OF RECORDS THAT FEW PEOPLE HAVE EVER CARED TO CHALLENGE.

AND ON MAY 5TH, 1961, JUST 23 DAYS AFTER THE SOVIET UNION STUNNED THE WORLD BY PUTTING A MAN IN SPACE, AMERICA COLLECTIVELY HELD ITS BREATH AS ASTRONAUT ALAN SHEPARD BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO BLAST INTO SPACE. HIS FLIGHT ABOARD THE FREEDOM 7 SPACECRAFT LASTED JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES AND TWENTY-EIGHT SECONDS.

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WEEK 20 - MAY 11-17, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IT WAS THE RUSSIANS WHO HOLD THE DISTINCTION OF MAKING THE FIRST FLIGHT OF A FOUR-ENGINE AIRPLANE ON MAY 13TH, 1913.

SIXTEEN YEAR LATER, ON MAY 16TH, 1929, THE PARAMOUNT MOVIE “WINGS” WON THE OSCAR FOR BEST PICTURE AT THE FIRST ACADEMY AWARD CEREMONIES IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. THE WORLD WAR ONE FLYING EPIC FEATURES AIR COMBAT SCENES THAT STILL AMAZE AUDIENCES MORE THAN SEVENTY YEARS LATER.

AND A RARE MILESTONE FOR WORLD WAR II B-17 BOMBER CREWS WAS REACHED ON MAY 17TH, 1943, WHEN THE CREW OF THE MEMPHIS BELLE BECAME THE FIRST HEAVY BOMBER CREW TO COMPLETE A FULL TOUR OF 25-DAYLIGHT BOMBING MISSIONS OVER EUROPE.

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WEEK 21 – MAY 18-24, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

MAY 22ND, 1906: THE U.S PATENT OFFICE HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF FINALLY ISSUING THE WRIGHT BROTHERS THE FIRST PATENT ON THEIR FLYING MACHINE – ALMOST 2 AND-A-HALF YEARS AFTER THEY FLEW SUCCESFULLY AT KITTY HAWK, AND AFTER THEY HAD TURNED DOWN TWO EARLIER SUBMISSIONS.

12 YEARS LATER, ON MAY 24TH, 1918, THE U.S. ARMY AIR SERVICE TOOK FLIGHT, AFTER THE WRIGHT BROTHERS SPENT YEARS CONVINCING THE ARMY THAT THEIR FLYING MACHINE WAS VIABLE.

AND, IT WAS THE FIRST SOLO NON-STOP TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT IN HISTORY. ON MAY 21ST, 1927, CHARLES LINDBERGH PILOTED THE “SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS” FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS IN THIRTY-THREE HOURS AND THIRTY-TWO MINUTES, CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD.

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WEEK 22 - MAY 25-31, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

IN A SIGN THAT THE SCIENCE OF FLIGHT WAS TAKING HOLD AT AMERICA’S EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BEGAN INSTRUCTION IN AERODYNAMICS ON MAY 13TH, 1913.

IT WAS MAY 25TH, 1927 WHEN JIMMY DOOLITTLE FLEW THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL OUTSIDE LOOP. DOOLITTLE, A MASTER OF THE CALCULATED RISK, WENT ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE GREAT LEADERS IN THE AMERICAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, AND WAS ALSO THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION.

AND ON MAY 25TH, 1953, GEORGE “WHEATIES” WELCH EXCEEDED MACH ONE DURING THE INITIAL FLIGHT OF THE PROTOTYPE F-100 SUPER SABER FIGHTER JET AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA.

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WEEK 23 - JUNE 01-07, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JUNE 7TH, 1965 WAS THE DAY AIR FORCE MAJOR EDWARD WHITE BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO WALK IN SPACE. WHITE AND AIR FORCE MAJOR JAMES MCDIVITT ALSO SET A SPACE ENDURANCE RECORD AS THEIR SPACECRAFT, GEMINI 4, ORBITED THE EARTH 62 TIMES IN JUST OVER 97 HOURS. THIS WAS THE FIRST SPACE FLIGHT CONTROLLED FROM THE MANNED SPACE FLIGHT CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SPEAKING OF LONGEVITY IN SPACE, ASTRONAUT NORMAN THAGARD SET THE U.S. RECORD FOR SPACE FLIGHT ENDURANCE ON JUNE 6TH, 1995, SPENDING 84 DAYS, ONE HOUR AND 17 MINUTES ABOARD THE RUSSIAN MIR SPACE STATION.

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WEEK 24 - JUNE 08-14, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

THE FIRST GERMAN V-1 FLYING BOMBS FIRED IN COMBAT WERE LAUNCHED AGAINST ENGLAND ON JUNE 14TH, 1944. FOUR OF THE ELEVEN BOMBS STRUCK LONDON ON THE FIRST RUN, AND MORE STRIKES FOLLOWED DURING THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II. LONDON RESIDENTS EVENTUALLY LEARNED TO LISTEN FOR THE BOMB’S ENGINES TO GO QUIET, MEANING AN EXPLOSION WAS IMMINENT.

IT WAS JUNE 8TH, 1953 WHEN THE U.S. AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS PERFORMED THEIR FIRST AERIAL DEMONSTRATION. TODAY, THE THUNDERBIRDS CONTINUE THEIR AERIAL ACROBATICS FOR LIVE AUDIENCES, AND HAVE ENTERTAINED MILLIONS OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.

AND ON JUNE 11TH, 1957, THE PROTOTYPE OF THE ATLAS INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE WAS LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA.

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WEEK 25 - JUNE 15-21, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JUNE 16TH, 1963 WAS THE DAY THAT COSMONAUT VALENTINA TERESHKOVA, A FORMER COTTON MILL WORKER, BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE. HER FLIGHT ABOARD THE VOSTOK 6 SPACECRAFT LASTED NEARLY THREE DAYS.

IN TOTAL SECRECY, THE F-117A STEALTH FIGHTER MADE ITS FIRST FLIGHT AT TONOPAH TEST RANGE IN NEVADA. THE STEALTH AIRCRAFT’S EXISTENCE WOULD NOT BECOME PUBLIC UNTIL 1988 - SEVEN YEARS AFTER ITS JUNE 18TH, 1981 FLIGHT.

AND ON THAT SAME DAY IN 1983, ASTRONAUT SALLY K. RIDE BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE, MAKING HER HISTORIC FLIGHT ABOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER.

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WEEK 26 - JUNE 22-28, 2003
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IMAGINATION, ADVENTURE, FLIGHT. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF POWERED FLIGHT, THIS IS UP FROM KITTY HAWK: THIS WEEK IN AVIATION HISTORY.

FOR THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE, I’M JOHN TAUTGES.

JUNE 26TH, 1948 MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT. DURING THE FIRST SIX DAYS OF THE OPERATION, NUMEROUS C-47 CARGO AIRCRAFT BROUGHT 80 TONS OF SUPPLIES INTO BERLIN. WHEN THE OPERATION ENDED FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER, THE CITY HAD GAINED A TOTAL OF 2.3 MILLION TONS OF FOOD, FUEL, AND SUPPLIES.

AFTER A HEATED PUBLIC DEBATE, THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM AGREED TO DISPLAY THE ENOLA GAY, THE B-29 BOMBER THAT DROPPED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB ON JAPAN, WITHOUT POLITICAL COMMENT OR BIAS ON NUCLEAR WARFARE. IT WAS JUNE 28TH, 1995.

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