DEC 17, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIRPLANE
 

DECEMBER 17, 1903. First Powered, Controlled airplane flight. First flights from level ground, engine power. 2 flights by Orville, 2 by Wilbur.

WRIGHTS!

Coincidentally:

17 Dec is the 91th birthday of Don Fairbanks, CFI with a dozen ratings, who won a few trophies in his Knight Twister "White Knight" in the 1970s. http://www.steenaero.com/Files/Artic...sisters_13.JPG

But Don had other "trophies" in his record too - tail gunner in a B-24 that dropped OSS personnel and supplies over occupied Europe during "the big one". [IMG]http://www.tri-statewarbirdmuseum.or...ctober2009.pdf[/IMG]

(edit) Don's still in good health, still attends the local aviation heritage society meetings, & He shared a piece of his birthday cake with me. Happy landings, Sir!

and Happy Birthday DC-3, the first of which made its maiden flight (as the Douglas Sleeper Transport) on 17 December 1935.