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May 2, 1952 |
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British Overseas Airways Corporation begins the world's first commercial jetliner service with the de Havilland DH 106 Comet 1. The 36-seat passenger jet flies from London, England to Johannesburg, South Africa, at speeds up to 500 miles per hour. Airlines around the world quickly beat a path to de Havilland's door. |
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January 10, 1954 |
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A de Havilland Comet departing from Rome plunges into the ocean killing all 29 passengers and six crew members. Three months later, another Comet bursts apart in flight. An exhaustive investigation reveals the Comet's fatal weakness -- metal fatigue. |
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June 30, 1956 |
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A TWA Superconstellation and a United Airlines DC-7 collide 21,000 feet over the Grand Canyon, killing all 128 people aboard both planes. This disaster, the worst in U.S. history up to this point, leads to new safety measures and the establishment of the Federal Aviation Agency. |
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October 4, 1958 |
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The newly redesigned Comet 4 premieres with service between London and New York. De Havilland's new jet, though, can only accommodate 67 passengers, while the forthcoming Boeing 707 could seat 111. Britain loses its dominance in commercial aviation to the Americans. |
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October 26, 1958 |
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Boeing's first jetliner, the 707, makes its inaugural flight for Pan Am, traveling from New York to Paris with 111 passengers. Boeing takes the lead in manufacturing passenger jets as commercial airlines discover that jets are more reliable and profitable than piston-driven planes. |
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March 19, 1959 |
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French aircraft manufacturer, Sud Aviation, delivers the Caravelle to Air France. Innovative in its design, the Caravelle is the first commercial jetliner to have its two jet engine positioned at the rear of the aircraft. |
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September 18, 1959 |
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Douglas Aircraft enters the jet manufacturing competition with its first jetliner, the DC-8, which begins commercial service for both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. |
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