June 2004 - Issue 6

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The History of Commercial Aviation

Commercial Aviation Timeline

17 December 1903

Dean Smith begins a seven-year career as an air mail pilot - a profession which entailed considerable hazards. During the nine years the U.S. Postal Office operated air mail service, 32 pilots - about one out of every six - were killed. The operations still moved on.

17 october 1903

After moving to Santa Monica, California, Donald Douglas forms the Davis Douglas Company with investor David Davis. The company's first successful aircraft, the Cloudster, made its first flight on February 24, 1921. Later that year, the company would change its name to simply The Douglas Company.

23 october 2003

Congress passes the Air Mail Act of 1925 (also known as the Kelly Act), permitting the government to hire private air carriers to deliver the mail. The government contracts that were subsequently awarded helped determine which airlines would dominate commercial aviation - airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines and TWA.

17 october 1903

Charles Lindbergh, flying his Spirit of St. Louis, becomes the first aviator to cross the Atlantic solo. Departing from Long Island, New York on May 20th, Lindbergh landed 33 hours and 30 minutes later in Paris where a crowd of more than 150,000 spectators greeted him.

23 october 2003

The Lockheed Vega first takes to the skies. After two unsuccessful attempts at establishing an aircraft company, Allan Lockheed finally finds success with the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.

17 october 1903

Pan American Airways officially begins air mail service by flying seven sacks of mail from Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba. The fledgling airline carries its first passengers on January 16, 1928. Pan Am's founder, Juan Trippe, is just 28 years old.

23 october 2003

Anne Morrow, daughter of the United States Ambassador to Mexico, marries Charles Lindbergh in a secret ceremony. Much of their early years together are spent flying, with Anne serving as co-pilot, navigator and radio operator on expeditions with her husband.

Next decade: 1930 - 1939