In 1909 Louis Blériot made history when he flew over the English Channel on Shell fuel. 100 years later Swedish pilot Mikael Carlson marked the event in a restored Blériot XI plane, also fuelled by Shell.
This video captures that flight, which was recreated to mark Shell Aviation's Centenary Year.
KLM is celebrating its 90th anniversary today. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on 7 October 1919 and still operates under its original name.
KLM is hosting a European "Tour of Inspiration" visiting 29 European cities in 45 days including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.
The tour has been designed to celebrate and showcase KLM's products and services including the recently launched "Economy Comfort" seating zone.
KLM's 90th anniversary celebrations kicked off on 1 January with a celebration flight of a Boeing 737-800 over Holland which was painted in KLM's old livery especially for the occasion.
Flight International's coverage of KLM matters
BA & KLM confirm merger talks (2000)
BA & KLM merger talks colllapse (2001)
70 years ago today Britain declared war on Germany. Flight recorded the event of course, by saying in its editorial on it's front page:
"The complete suppression of Czechoslovakia followed as a matter of course, and other examples of Nazi bullying have succeeded. The time had to come when Britain and France must make a stand, and that time has now arrived. Our only regret is that we could not have made our stand in time to save the gallant Czechs. We must hope that the result of this war will see their country set free again, If last year we were weak, now we and France are very strong, on the sea, on the land, and in the air."
Continue reading this article and flick through the archive pages to see the rest of the issue... including an account of Poland's air force... "although for obvious reasons it is impossible to discuss authoritatively the strength and detail organisation..."
This week marks the centenary of the La Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne held at the current site of the Reims Airbase BA112, according to Flightglobal user Stephen Wolf on 22-29 August 1909.
Flight wrote a pre-show report it in its 14 August issue, in which it said: "The Grand Semaine de Champagne will commence [22 August], and in view of the long list of prominent aviators who have promised to take part in the various contests, this will go down to history as the first great meeting of aeroplanes. Its most prominent event will be the first contest for the Gordon-Bennett Aviation Trophy."
There was to be a race in which competitors must cover two circuits of the 10km course. "The one who covers it in the fastest time wins a £500 trophy for his club and £1000 for himself."
Great Britain was to be represented by Mr. G. B. Cockburn on a Farman biplane, and America by Mr. Glenn Curtiss on a machine of his own design.
In Flight's 28 August issue, its leader piece said: "The Rheims meeting marks an epoch in the history of mechanical aerial locomotion. It is the first occasion on which a wide variety of machines has been brought together, and on which one has been pitted against the other day after day..."
Mr Wolf said: "The joy of flying was captured in the displays, and was a fitting tribute to those brave pioneers of 100 years ago, where every flight was an adventure destined for the record books.....
"I hope this centenary will get a mention on the FlightGlobal website, particularly as there are some great articles on the event in the annals of Flight."
Pictures of the Rheims 1909 aviators
Alexander Yakovlev, famous for designing the Russian Yak fighter aircraft, died on this day in 1989.
Yakovlev made up part of a feature in Flight International in 1943 about Russian aircraft designers.
In 1966 he was awarded the Order of Lenin for creating new aircraft.
Flight wrote: "Under his guidance Soviet engineers have created dozens of new types of planes and helicopters, mainly piston-engined and jet fighters and fighter-interceptors."
Stefan the Pilot and I went to Walthamstowe Marshes recently in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first all-British flight just under the railway arches at Walthamstowe Marshes.
I produced some videos from the day out including one of a chat I had with A.V. Roe's grandson, Eric Verdon Roe and of Mike Taylor, project leader of Roe Heritage Group who talked about the modern day problems encountered with building an aircraft from the early 20th century.
The event was sponsored by BAE Systems and organised by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Flight International profiles the Roe Triplane in its 1 April 1911 issue but recorded the flights of Roe's, triplane at the time saying: "On July 23rd, he made four successful attempts, of which three were flights of some 300 yards in length each. In the first flight Mr. Roe failed to fully accelerate his engine, and the machine alighted after a brief ascent, but on the second, third and fourth flights, he got going properly and ascended to an altitude of from 6 ft. to 10 ft. above the ground." Continue reading...
Texan Wiley Post, a one-eyed American Indian, died today in 1935, following a crash in Alaska.
He was the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Flight reported that he "accomplished his circuit in 7 days, 18 hours and 50 mins."
In our pdf archive I discovered that it was important enought to report on the type of flying suit WIley Post would wear for his round the world trip. His helmet looks a bit like one used for diving which looks like it would have surely obstructed his vision, and especially worrying considering Post only had one eye.
Post flew a Lockheed Vega called Winnie Mae and Flight published data on standard Lockheed types detailing which engines the Vega is fitted with and includes a general arrangement diagram.
Here's another feature soley on the engine: Pratt & Whitney Wasp.
Post flew at high altitude and Flight published a feature on the advantages and disadvantages of flying in thin air.
Here's a feature on flying fitness. But for all my searching, I wasn't able to find a archive entry for Post's death which I'm sure Flight will have recorded. If you find it let me know.
This is a countdown to the launch of Apollo 11 from WeChoosetheMoon.org
Flightglobal's sister titles New Scientist and Computer Weekly also covered the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing.
Computer Weekly coverage
New Scientist coverage
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