This day in: 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1986 & 1987

10 Jul 2010

10 July 1961 A Tactical Air Command pilot flew a Republic F-105D Thunderchief for more than 2410 km (1300 nm) without any external vision. This was a test to ensure that the instrumentation and radar system of the F-105 were adequate for a squadron pilot to make a long-range IFR mission at altitudes between 500 and 1000 ft (152 and 305 m). 10 July 1962 A Delta launch rocket from Cape Canaveral placed the Telstar 1 communications satellite in Earth orbit. It made possible the first transatlantic exchanges of TV programmes. 10 July 1964 The first Dassault Mystere 20 executive jet prototype modified for Pan Am, made its first flight at Melun-Villaroche, France. 10 July 1965 USAF pilots scored their first air-to-air victories. Two F-4 Phantoms shot down one MiG-17 each. 10 July 1986 Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager began a 5-day and 18 245 km (9952 nm) non-stop test flight in Voyager. 10 July 1987 Swissair, British Airways, KLM and United Airlines launched the Galileo ticket reservation system.

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