1966 in aviation

Years in aviation: 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Centuries: 19th century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades: 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
Years: 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1966.

Deadliest crash

The deadliest crash of this year was All Nippon Airways Flight 60, a Boeing 727 which crashed into Tokyo Bay, Japan on 4 February, as it approached Haneda Airport, killing all 133 people on board; as well as being then the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident, it was also among a string of five major crashes to strike Japan in 1966; 371 people were killed in these incidents.

Events

January

February

March

April

May

  • Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s start to appear in the skies over Vietnam.
  • May 1
    • While ascending in the balloon Strato Jump III to attempt to set a new world skydiving altitude record of over 120,000 feet (37,000 meters), Nicholas Piantanida is fatally injured when his pressure suit depressurizes at an altitude of about 57,000 feet (17,000 meters). Although ground controllers detach the gondola from the balloon at an altitude of 56,000 feet (17,000 meters) and return it to earth in a 25-minute parachute descent with Piantanida on board, Piantanida suffers brain damage and never emerges from a coma. He will die on August 29.
    • Jamaica Air Service Ltd. inaugurates service from Jamaica to Miami, Florida, and New York City.
  • May 19 – The United States Air Force′s second North American XB-70A Valkyrie – named Air Vehicle 2 (AV-2) – covers 2,400 miles in 91 minutes of flight, flying at Mach 3 for 32 minutes – the longest continuous time at Mach 3 ever achieved by an XB-70 – and reaching a maximum speed of Mach 3.06.
  • May 23–26 – A new Learjet 24 makes a round-the-world demonstration flight to exhibit its capabilities. The total flight time for the trip is 50 hours and 20 minutes.

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

First flights

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

October

November

December

Entered service

January

July

September

Retirements


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