AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 34) PILOTBRIEFING 1958 January | Sputnik I, the world’s first orbiting satellite, reenters the atmosphere and burns. January 31 | The first U.S. satellite, Explorer I, is launched. July 29 | President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Space Act of 1958, forming NASA. August 14 | First flight of the Gulfstream I. August 23 | Eisenhower signs the Federal Aviation Act. October 26 | Pan Am flies the first transatlantic jet trip from New York to Paris. July 1 | A new safety rule becomes effective, requiring that holders of first class medical certificates—airline transport pilots—must submit to annual electrocardiograms. April 17, 1964 | Geraldine (Jerrie) Mock finishes her 29-day flight in her Cessna 180 Spirit of Columbus. She is the first woman pilot to fly solo around the world. 1960 April 1 | The U.S. launches Tiros I, the first of a successful series of weather satellites. May 1 | American U–2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, is shot down over Russia. 1961 January 14 | The Piper (PA-28) Cherokee takes its first flight. May 25 | A Special Civil Air Regulation bans the use of portable FM radios on U.S. civil aircraft. A remarkable half century An interesting time for aviation—and the world COMPILED BY KATHRYN OPALEWSKI December 10 | First domestic (New York to Miami) passenger jet service by National Airlines Flight 707. July 19 | Trans World Airlines (TWA) becomes the first airline to introduce regular in-flight movies. December 15 | The U.S. Air Force graduates its first five military space pilots from the Aerospace Research Pilots School. February 20 | Lt. Col. John H. Glenn completes three Earth orbits in the Mercury-Atlas 6 Friendship 7 spacecraft. February 27 | The FAA announces Project Little Guy to develop simpler, more efficient cockpit layouts for light aircraft. Agency becomes the Federal Aviation Administration. May 1 | The FAA drops its requirement that applicants under 21 years of age have parental or guardian consent for student pilot certificates. 1959 February 3 | Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens die when their Beechcraft Bonanza crashes. February 17 | The Vanguard II satellite is launched into Earth orbit. 1968 1962 The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) is formed. 1963 January 17 | Joe Walker flies the North American X–15A to a height of 271,000 feet. December 21 | Apollo 8, is the first manned mission to orbit the moon. 1969 1964 January 20 | The first Beech King Air flies. July 16 | A Saturn V launches Apollo 11 from the Kennedy Space Center. July 29 | Brazil’s ministry of aeronautics creates Embraer, an aerospace conglomerate. December | At the end of the decade, AOPA has 141,000 members. 1966 June 2 | Surveyor I becomes the first U.S. spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon. September 11 | Tracy Barnes completes the first hot-airballoon flight across the contiguous U.S. TOP LEFT : COURTESY NASA 1970 January | The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is founded. 1967 October 7, 1963 | The first flight of the original Learjet 23 AOPA PILOT • 34 • MARCH 2008 April 1 | The Federal Aviation
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