April 9 in aviation: the first flight of the Boeing 737; launch of Boeing 777; NASA's first selection of astronauts.
On April 9, 1929, the French airline Air Union began operating a night service from Paris to London. Air Union was a French airline established on January 1, 1923, following a merger between Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes and Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens. Air Union was merged with four other French airlines to become Air France on October 7, 1933.
Other aviation events on April 9.
NASA has announced the selection of the first astronauts in the United States.
On April 9, 1959, NASA announced the selection of the first seven astronauts in the United States, which the media quickly called "Mercury Seven". Among them were Alan Shepard - the fifth man to step on the moon and John Glenn - the first American to ever orbit the Earth.
Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya set a new world speed record.
On April 9, 1960, the giant Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya set a new world speed record for 545.07 mph propeller aircraft. At that time he was carrying £ 55.116 and flew around an official 3.107-mile closed circuit in the USSR.
The first flight of the de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo.
On April 9, 1964, the first flight of the Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft took place. The De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short-takeoff (STOL) turboprop aircraft developed from the DHC-4 caribou powered by a front piston.
He joined the BAC One-Eleven operational service.
On April 9, 1965, he joined the BAC One-Eleven operational service with British United Airways.
The first flight of the Boeing 737.
On April 9, 1967, the first Boeing 737 flight took place. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at the Renton factory in Washington. Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short, slender routes, it retains the cross section of the 707 fuselage and nose with two turbofans under the wings. Scheduled for 1964, the initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered operational service in February 1968 with Lufthansa. The 737-200 extension came into operation in April 1968. It has evolved over four generations.
Air France has launched its second supersonic service, from Paris to Caracas.
On April 9, 1976, Air France launched its second supersonic service, from Paris to Caracas, Venezuela. The flight with Concorde aircraft it lasted just over six hours, with a stopover in the Azores.
The Challenger STS-6 spacecraft landed at Edwards Air Force Base.
On April 9, 1983, the Challenger STS-6 spacecraft landed at Edwards Air Force Base at 18:53:42 UTC. The main missions of the ship were the implementation of TDRS, the first flight of the Challenger, which was also the first spacecraft with extra-vehicular activity.
Launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor STS-59.
On April 9, 1994, the Space Shuttle Endeavor STS-59 was launched at 7:05 am EDT. The main landmarks of the mission were the testing of Shuttle Radar Laboratory-1.
Launch of Boeing 777.
On April 9, 1994, the Boeing 777, the newest member of the Boeing family of aircraft, was launched.