World
Aviation in 1931
6 January
The first formation flight across the South Atlantic, from
Portuguese Guinea to Brazil, is made by ten Italian Savoia
seaplanes led by General Balbo.
15 April
The world's first airmail by rocket is flown near Osnabrück
in Germany.
19 June
The Canadian opera singer Lissaint Beardmore uses a Professor
glider (sailplane) to make the first cross-Channel glider
flight from Lympne in Kent to St. Inglevert near Boulogne.
23
June - 1 July
Wiley Post and Harold Gatty fly round the world in a Lockheed
aircraft, the 'Winnie Mae'. 15,474 miles are completed in 8
days 15 hours 51 minutes.
23 July
Russell N. Boardman and John Boardman establish a distance
record of 8,065 kilometres (5,011 miles) in a Wright J6.
18 September
Japan begins operations against China, which leads to the
occupation of Manchuria by Japanese forces.
3-5 October
Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon make the first non-stop
flight between Japan and the United States. They used a
Bellanca aircraft.
October
Air France becomes the first European airline to recruit air
hostesses.
3 December
The Soviet Zveno-1 parasitic fighter/bomber combination makes
its first flight. The first combination consists of a TB1
heavy bomber with two I4 fighters attached to its wing.
Also this year...
The American Spud Manning makes the first spread-eagled
skydiving descent from 15,000 feet.
A parachute assault is made
by Soviet troops against Basmachi insurgents in Central Asia.
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