Calendar

Maiden Flight of the Saetta

The Italian fighter Macchi MC.200 Saetta made its maiden flight. 1,153 examples were built, of which 144 remained in service when Italy entered World War II. Twenty-three survived the war.

Maiden Flight of the Brigadyr

The Czechoslovak multi-role short take-off and landing aircraft Aero L-60 Brigadyr made its maiden flight. 300 Brigadyrs were built. In Poland, three aircraft of this type were used as ambulance aircraft; one is an exhibit at the Polish Aviation Museum.

Disaster in the Peruvian Jungle

A Lockheed L-188 Electra crashed in Peru after being struck by lightning. 91 people were killed. The sole surviving passenger was seventeen-year-old Juliane Koepcke, thrown from the aircraft still strapped to her seat. The injured girl, after a nine-day trek through the jungle, found a loggers’ settlement where she received help.

Christmas Eve