Aeroplanes through history
Choose a decade or an aircraft role. Open each milestone to see what actually happened.
1903Powered flight with controlPioneering
The Wrights combine a powered airframe with a system of control.
Read the aircraft profile →1935The DC-3 first fliesCommercial
A passenger and freight transport becomes part of aviation’s everyday working world.
Read the aircraft profile →1938The Spitfire enters serviceMilitary
Production Mk I aircraft begin RAF service in August.
Read the aircraft profile →1941The Lancaster prototype fliesMilitary
A four-engined development follows the Manchester.
Read the aircraft profile →1952The first Vulcan prototype fliesMilitary
This milestone concerns the earlier B1 prototype, not B2 service entry.
Read the aircraft profile →1960The Vulcan B2 enters serviceMilitary
The enlarged B2 arrives on 1 July.
Read the aircraft profile →1964The SR-71 takes flightMilitary
The family’s first flight takes place in December.
Read the aircraft profile →1969The first 747 fliesCommercial
The first flight precedes airline service in January 1970.
Read the aircraft profile →1976Concorde begins BA serviceCommercial
The Bahrain service starts on 21 January.
Read the aircraft profile →1998The first 737-800 is deliveredCommercial
Boeing reports delivery to Hapag-Lloyd in April.
Read the aircraft profile →2015A350-900 airline service beginsCommercial
A new long-haul chapter opens in January.
Read the aircraft profile →2016The first A320neo is deliveredCommercial
Lufthansa receives its first aircraft in January.
Read the aircraft profile →No milestones match both filters. Try another decade or reset.
Explore the objects behind the dates.
1903 Wright Flyer
A machine that made control the story.
Explore →Commercial
Douglas DC-3
The workhorse behind a different kind of journey.
Explore →Commercial
Boeing 747
The upper-deck silhouette that needs no introduction.
Explore →Commercial
Boeing 737-800
An everyday jet with a very specific identity.
Explore →