Aviation News

September 27, 2009

On This Day in Aviation History: September 27th

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Written by: Phil Derner Jr.
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Captain Milburn "Mel" Apt inthe cockpit of the Bell X-2

Captain Milburn "Mel" Apt inthe cockpit of the Bell X-2

1956 – USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt becomes the first man to exceed Mach 3 while flying the Bell X-2. Shortly thereafter, the craft goes out of control and Captain Apt is killed. From a dive at high altitude, the aircraft reached Mach 3.2 as he passed through 65,000ft. While making a series of turns to slow down, he lost control of the aircraft and was killed when his escape capsule hit the ground, with the X-crashing five miles away.

1992 – Military transport plane crashes in Lagos, Nigeria killing 163.

1913 – Katherine Stinson becomes the 1st woman in the United States to make an official airmail flight.

1910 – First test flight of a twin-engined aircraft took place in France.



About the Author

Phil Derner Jr.
Phil Derner founded NYCAviation in 2003. A lifetime aviation enthusiast that grew up across the water from La Guardia Airport, Phil has aviation experience as a Loadmaster, Operations Controller and Flight Dispatcher. He owns and operates NYCAviation and performs duties as an aviation expert through writing, consulting, public speaking and media appearances. You can reach him by email or follow him on Twitter.




 
 

 

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