World
Aviation in 1924
1 April
The Canadian Air Force is granted the 'Royal' prefix.
19 May
Wing
Commander Goble and Flight Lieutenant McIntyre of the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) complete their round-Australia
flight. The flight took 90 hours in a Fairey IIID.
1 July
The first regular transcontinental airmail flights begin in
the USA.
August
The Bolivian Air Force (Cuerpo de Aviación) is formed.
28 September
The
first round the world aeroplane flight is completed. Douglas
World Cruisers' 'Chicago' and 'New Orleans' arrive back at
Seattle. With an actual flying time of 371 hours 11 minutes,
the flight required 57 stops.
12 October
US Navy ZR3 'Los Angeles', a Zeppelin built as part of German
reparations, leaves Friedrichshaven for Lakehurst in New
Jersey.
13 December
The first attempt to hook on to the United States Army TC3
dirigible (steerable airship) is a failure and 1st Lieutenant
Clyde Finter, flying a Sperry Messenger, has to make a forced
landing.
15 December
Following a failure two days earlier, a Sperry Messenger,
successfully hooks up to United States Navy TC3 dirigible.
Also this year...
The Soviet Red Air Fleet is renamed Voenno Vozdushniye Sily (VVS).
The first freefall parachute
descent is made as the result of a bet. Staff Sergeant
Randall Bose of the United States Army jumps from a height of
4,500 feet over Mitchell Field on Long Island. He falls 1,500
feet before opening his parachute. He had bet a friend he
would still be able to open his parachute after falling over
1,000 feet. He won the bet but the amount is unrecorded.
The following air services
are established:
- Imperial Ethiopian Aviation
- Imperial Iranian Army Air
Office
- Peruvian Naval Air Service
- Afghan Military Air Arm
Huff Daland Dusters is formed
and becomes the first crop dusting company in world. |