This day in: 1962, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991 & 2002

17 Jul 2010

17 July 1962 USAF Major Robert M. White set a new world altitude record of 95 936 m (314 750 ft) in the North American X-15 rocket airplane. He also became the 5th USAF pilot to receive astronaut wings, which were earned when one flew higher than 50 miles (80 km). 17 July 1968 A meeting of representatives from Belgium, Canada, the Federal German Republic, Italy, the Netherlands and UK took place in Bonn to discuss cooperation to develop an Advanced Combat Aircraft for common military use. This was the first move to what later became the Panavia Tornado project. 17 July 1970 New Orleans introduced the first airport-wide screening system designed to prevent hijackings. 17 July 1980 - Cathay Pacific became the first airline to operate the Boeing 747 between Hong Kong and London. - The AEW version of the British Aerospace Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft / Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft made its first flight. 17 July 1981 A first flight was made by the prototype Piper T-1040 turboprop-powered commuter airliner developed from the Piper Chieftain, which was to be marketed by Piper’s new Airline Division established on 4 June 1981. 17 July 1989 The Northrop B-2, the most expensive aircraft in history, costing US$ 516 million each, made its first flight, from Palmdale, California. 17 July 1991 US$1 million in cash was stolen during a scheduled Air France flight from Corsica to Paris. The thief hid in the aircraft's hold during the flight, and broke into two sealed sacks in which the cash was being carried. 17 July 2002 Midway Airlines suspended operations.

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