1988 in aviation
Years in aviation :
|
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 |
| Centuries: | 19th century · 20th century · 21st century |
| Decades: | 2000s 2010s
|
| Years: | 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 |
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1988.
Events
January
- Sometime during the first week of January, the Iraqi Air Force hits a Greek-owned commercial cargo ship in the Persian Gulf with an Exocet missile.[1]
- During early January, Iran experiments with the use of AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles in antishipping strikes in the Persian Gulf. The Maverick's warhead proves too small to inflict significant damage on merchant ships.[2]
- January 1 – The United States Government begins to track the on-time-arrival and baggage-handling performance of United States airlines.[3]
- January 15 – Since January 1, Iraq has conducted five airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and one against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out two air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping, but none against urban and economic targets in Iraq.[4]
- January 19 – Mid Pacific Air ceases all passenger service to Hawaii. It will cease all cargo service to Hawaii a month later.
- January 26 – The French Ministry of Defense approves full-scale development of the Dassault Rafale.
- January 27 – An Iraqi Air Force Mirage F-1 flies an attack profile against the United States Navy dock landing ship USS Portland (LSD-37) in the Persian Gulf, apparently not realizing the identity of its target. Another United States Navy ship establishes radio contact with the Mirage pilot and warns him off before he can fire at Portland.[1]
- January 30 – A Boeing 747 sets a new around-the-world record of 36 hours 54 minutes.
- January 31 – Since January 16, Iraq has conducted 11 airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and Iran has carried out two. Neither country has attacked urban and economic targets on the other's territory.[4]
February
- In retaliation for a bomb attack on a bank in Mirage aircraft attack the headquarters of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO).[5]
- During the month, the RH-53D Sea Stallion minesweeping helicopters it had deployed to the Persian Gulf in August 1987 to assist in the clearing of Iraqi and Iranian naval mines.[6]
- In mid-February, an Iraqi Air Force Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting name "Badger") bomber fires Silkworm missiles which come within eight nautical miles (15 km) of a convoy escorted by United States Navy ships.[6]
- February 7 – The Iraqi Air Force strikes Iran's Kharg Island for the first time since November 4, 1987.[2]
- February 9 – The F-5 Freedom Fighters that still are operational.[2]
- February 13 – The United States Navy Mirage F-1 flyng an attack profile before the Iraqi pilot turns away without firing.[1]
- February 15 – Since February 1, Iraq has conducted four airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and 27 against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out three air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping but none against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
- February 18 – The airline Binter Canarias, a subsidiary of Iberia, is founded. It will begin flight operations in March 1989.
- February 26 – After Iraqi troops are driven out of the area, Iraqi aircraft drop poison gas attacks combined kill 5,000 people.[7]
- February 27 – The Iraqi Air Force carries out a major raid against the Rey oil refinery in Tehran, badly damaging it and forcing Iran to resume rationing of petroleum products.[2]
- February 29 – Since February 16, Iraq has conducted 13 airstrikes against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out five against urban or economic targets in Iraq. Neither side has launched air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping during the period.[4]
March
- Spanair commences operations.
- March 6 – Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces aboard small boats and an oil platform fire on American military helicopters performing routine reconnaissance patrols over the Persian Gulf. It is the first combat to take place in the Persian Gulf since February 12, ending one of the longest lulls in fighting in the Persian Gulf since Western forces intervened there in 1987.[8]
- March 8
- The Iraqi Air Force hits an Iranian ship for the first time since February 9, beginning a series of regular Iraqi attacks against shipping in the Persian Gulf. Iraq claims it has hit 23 ships in the Persian Gulf since January 1, but shipping companies confirm only nine ships damaged.[8]
- During a domestic flight in the hijacks Aeroflot Flight 3739, a Tupolev Tu-154B (NATO reporting name "Careless") airliner, and demand that the crew fly to London so that they can escape from the Soviet Union. The crew persuades the hijackers that they must first land in Finland to refuel, but instead lands at the Soviet military airbase at Veshchevo, where a Soviet interior ministry incident response teamstorms the aircraft. Four hostages are killed and five hijackers commit suicide; ten surviving hijackers are arrested.
- March 15 – As both Iran and Iraq escalate their air campaigns against one another, Iraq has conducted five airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and 114 against urban and economic targets in Iran since March 1, while Iran has carried out 42 air attacks against urban or economic targets in Iraq, but none against shipping.[4]
- March 17 – Avianca Flight 410, a Boeing 727-21, crashes near Cúcuta, Colombia, killing all 143 people on board.
- March 19 – The Iraqi Air Force conducts a major raid against Iran's Kharg Island, setting two tankers ablaze and killing 46 crewmen.[8]
- March 31 – Since March 16, Iraq has conducted 14 airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and 94 against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out 15 air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping and 129 against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
- During a major Iraqi ground offensive in northern Iran, the Iraqi Air Force flies an average of 224 sorties per day, losing an average of three aircraft per day. The F-5 Freedom Fighters.[9]
April
- The Mexican government-owned airline Aeroméxico is declared bankrupt and grounded. After privatization, it will resume operations in Octoberwith a new corporate identity but still marketed as Aeroméxico.
- April 7 – The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force stages a raid against Baghdad, inflicting little damage and apparently losing one aircraft.[10]
- April 8 – Pacific Southwest Airlines shuts down operations and is integrated to US Air.
- April 15 – Since April 1, Iraq has conducted two airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and 38 against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out one air attack against Persian Gulf shipping and 85 against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
- April 17 – Iraq launches a major ground offensive to retake al-Faw from Iran, claiming that its fixed-wing aircraft and attack helicopters have flown 318 combat sorties during the day.[11]
- April 18
- The United States Navy conducts guided-missile cruiser USS Wainwright (CG-28), which damages one of them with a surface-to-air missile.
- Al-Faw falls to Iraqi forces, and Iran makes an unfounded claim that American attack helicopters have supported the Iraqi offensive.[12]
- The United States Navy conducts
- April 23 – Kanellos Kanellopoulos recreates the mythical flight of Daedalus by flying a pedal-powered aircraft, the MIT Daedalus, from Crete to Santorini, covering the 119 km (74 mi) in 3 hours 54 minutes.
- April 28 – Aloha Airlines Flight 243 suffers an explosive decompression in flight over the Hawaiian Islands, with the roof blowing off the Boeing 737-200 from the cockpit to just in front of the wings. All 90 passengers and four of the five crew survive; one flight attendant is swept out of the plane and falls to her death.
- April 30 – Since April 16, Iraq has conducted two airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and seven against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out five air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping and 58 against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
May
- May 6 – , killing all 36 people on board. It remains the deadliest accident involving a Dash 7.
- May 8 – The world's smallest airplane, the Starr Bumble Bee II, makes its first flight, piloted by its builder, Robert H. Starr. It crashes the same day due to engine failure, seriously injuring Starr.
- May 10 – Airbus A300s are delivered to American Airlines and enter service with the airline.
- May 14; An Iraqi airforce jet fires missiles at an oil tanker, the Jahre Viking ( at the time the biggest tanker in the world ). The ship is on fire and sinks, but it is refloated repaired and used for some more years.[13]
- May 15 – Since May 1, Iraq has conducted 12 airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and two against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out no airstrikes.[4]
- May 23 – Shamu One, a killer whale, begins flying for the airline.
- May 24 – British Airways takes over British Caledonian.
- May 24 – Descending to land at Michoudarea of eastern New Orleans. There are no fatalities, and only seven of the 45 people on board suffer injuries, all minor.
- May 25 – The Iraqi Air Force strikes the power station at Neka, Iran.[14]
- May 29 –
- May 30 – The first Principe de Asturias, is commissioned into the Spanish Navy.
- May 31 – Since May 16, Iraq has conducted two airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and two against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out five air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping, but none against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
June
- June 6 – Ascending from hot-air balloons, reaching 19,811 meters (64,997 feet). The record will stand until 26 November 2005.[16]
- June 8 – Operating in the guided-missile frigate USS Halyburton (FFG-40) orders an airliner operating as British Airways Flight 147 to turn away or risk being fired upon, the airliner comes into a near-miss situation with another airliner, prompting the Dubai air traffic control center to lodge a formal protest.[17]
- June 15 – Since June 1, Iraq has conducted three airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf, but nine against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out no air attacks.[4]
- June 18 – Iraqi and Mujahideen-e-Khalq grounds forces launch an offensive to take Mehran, Iran, supported by 580 sorties by Iraqi Air Force jets and Iraqi attack helicopters.[18]
- June 23 – The
- June 25 – Iraqi ground forces launch a major ground offensive against Iranian forces around Majnoon and behind the Majnoon Islands. Iraqi Air Force jets and Iraqi attack helicopters apparently fly over 40 sorties in support of the offensive. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force commits 35 aircraft to countering the Iraqi offensive and suffers heavy losses.[19]
- June 26 – The first crash of an Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport in France, strikes trees beyond the runway, and crashes. Three passengers die and 50 people on board are injured.
- June 30 – The Iraqi Air Force strikes an Iranian
July
- July 1 – The Government of Australia creates the Civil Aviation Authority to control aviation safety regulation and provide air traffic control services in Australia.
- July 3 – After an United States Government maintains that the cruiser's crew believed the airliner was a threatening Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force F-14 Tomcat and blames the airliner's crew for failing to monitor warning frequencies and Iranian air traffic control for routing the aircraft at too low an altitude over a known area of hostilities; the Government of Iran argues that the ship's crew knew that the aircraft was an airliner and shot it down deliberately and unlawfully.[20]
- July 8–13 – Eleven-year-old Chris Marshall flies a Mooney M20 from San Diego, California, in the United States to Paris, France.
- July 12 – Two United States Army helicopters exchange fire with two Iranian gunboats in the Persian Gulf east of Farsi Island, forcing the Iranian vessels to break off their attack on the tanker Universal Monarch.[21]
- July 13 – A British International Helicopters Sikorsky S-61N helicopter ditches in the North Sea northeast of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland, Scotland, without injury to any of the 21 people on board.
- July 14 – Wanzhou, China.
- July 15 – Since July 1, Iraq has conducted five airstrikes against shipping in the Persian Gulf and three against urban and economic targets in Iran, while Iran has carried out five air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping, but none against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
- July 25 – The Portuguese Portugália is established. It will begin flight operations in July 1990.
- July 31 – Since July 16, Iraq has conducted four airstrikes against urban and economic targets in Iran, but Iran has carried out no air attacks against urban or economic targets in Iraq. Neither country has launched air attacks against Persian Gulf shipping during the period.[4]
August
- August 17 – During its initial climb after takeoff from United States Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Lewis Raphel, and the head of the United States military aid mission to Pakistan, General Herbert M. Wassom.[22][23]
- August 20
- Since August 1, Iraq has conducted five airstrikes against urban and economic targets in Iran, but has not attacked Persian Gulf shipping, while Iran has carried out one air attack against Persian Gulf shipping but has not launched air attacks against urban or economic targets in Iraq.[4]
- A ceasefire officially brings the seven-year-eleven-month-long Iran–Iraq War to an end, although Iran and Iraq had formally announced an end to all fighting on August 8.[24]
- August 28 – The Ramstein airshow disaster takes place during a performance by the Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori aerobatic demonstration team at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany when three Aermacchi MB-339 PAN aircraft collide, killing all three pilots and 67 spectators on the ground and injuring 346 people. It is the worst air showaccident in history.
- August 31 – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Euless, Texas, killing 14 and injuring 76 of the 108 people on board.
September
- September 7 – Trans World Airlines stockholders approve majority owner Carl Icahn's proposal to take the company private. The transaction earns $610.3 million for the stockholders – of which $469 million goes to Icahn – and adds $539.7 million to the airline's debt.[25]
- September 10 – Tuwaitha.[26]
- September 15 – Ethiopian Airlines Flight 604, a Boeing 737-260, strikes a flock of speckled pigeons during takeoff from Bahir Dar Airport at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Both of its engines ingest birds and lose thrust as the aircraft returns to the airport, and the plane catches fire during a belly landing. Thirty-five of the 104 people on board die.
- September 30 – American race car driver Al Holbert is fatally injured when the Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar he is piloting crashes near Columbus, Ohio, just after takeoff because its clamshell door is not closed.[27]
October
- October 1 – The privately owned airline Aerovias de Mexico SA de CV begins flight operations, using the remaining assets of its predecessor, the Mexican government-owned Aeroméxico, which had ceased operations in Aprildue to bankruptcy. The new airline also operates as Aeroméxico.
- October 5 – Donald Trump makes arrangements to purchase the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle. The deal will be completed in June 1989.
- October 12 – A Newark International Airport. The minimum distance between the two aircraft was 500 feet (150 meters) vertically and 1.58 miles (2.54 kilometers) horizontally.[28]
- October 19 – , and crashes, killing 130 of the 135 people on board and leaving all five survivors injured.
November
- November 2 – Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport. One person is killed in the crash, but the other 28 people on board evacuate quickly, escaping before the plane bursts into flame; among the survivors is Polish radio presenter Tomasz Beksiński. As a result of the crash, LOT Polish Airlines replaces all of its An-24s with ATR 42 and ATR 72aircraft.
- November 10 – The United States Air Force publicly unveils the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter. It had been operational secretly since 1983.[29]
- November 18 – Boeing 737-200. It is the first airline in a Communist Eastern Europeancountry to acquire a Western-built aircraft.
December
- Federal Express. It will complete its merger with Federal Express in August 1989.
- December 8 – A A-10 Thunderbolt II on a low-level flying exercise crashes into the upper floor of an apartment complex in a residential area of Remscheid, West Germany, killing the pilot and five people on the ground and injuring 50 others.
- December 16 – A T-38 Talon intercepts it and finds it flying with frost apparently inside its cockpit windows, but also cannot communicate with its crew. The Learjet flies into Mexico and crashes near Cuatro Ciénegas in Coahuila, Mexico, after it runs out of fuel, killing both crew members.
- December 21 – Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 on board and eleven on the ground. English rock musician Paul Jeffreys and his new wife, flying to their honeymoon, are among the dead.[27] Libyanterrorists are blamed for the tragedy.
- December 31 – In a Tupolev Tu-134A (NATO reporting name "Crusty") achieves the highest landing speed for an aircraft, at 415 kilometres per hour (258 mph).[30]
First flights
February
- February 11 – Cirrus VK-30[31]
- February 19 – Boeing 737-400[31]
- February 22 – IRGC Fajr[31]
March
- March 18 – Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-13 Arcus[31]
April
- April 16 – McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk[31]
- April 21 – Boeing 747-400
- April 29 – Grob G 116[31]
May
- May 8 – Starr Bumble Bee II
June
- June 14 – Schweizer 330 N330TT[31]
- June 28 – Sukhoi Su-27M (NATO reporting name "Flanker-E")
July
- July 12 – Scaled Composites/Beechcraft Model 143 Triumph N143SC,[32] also first flight of the Williams International FJ44 turbofan engine.
- July 14 – Socata TBM700 F-WTBM[33]
August
- August 15 – SZD-55 sailplane.[34]
- August 25 – FFV Aerotech BA-14 Starling.[35]
- August 28 – Hoffmann H-40 D-EIOF.[36]
September
- September 28 – Ilyushin Il-96
October
December
- December 9 – JAS 39 Gripen.[39]
- December 12 – CMC Leopard G-BKRL.[40]
- December 21 – Antonov An-225 Mriya[41]
- December 28 – Let L-610 OK-130.[42]
Entered service
April
- April 29 – Airbus A320 with British Airways
May
- May 9 – British Aerospace ATP with British Midland[43]
Deadliest crash
The deadliest crash of this year was Iran Air Flight 655, a Airbus A300 which was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz on 3 July, killing all 290 people onboard. Later that year, a terrorist bomb exploded aboard Pan Am Flight 103, a Boeing 747 which then crashed into Lockerbie, Scotland on 21 December, killing all 259 people on board as well as 11 on the ground; this disaster may have been aided by Iran in reaction to the shootdown of Flight 655 not six months earlier.[44]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, pp. 352n.
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 363.
- ^ Associated Press, "Carriers Do Better On Arrival Time, Liggage," The Washington Post, August 10, 2012, p. A9.
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 365.
- ISBN 0-679-72033-2, p. 67.
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 340.
- ^ Cordesman and Wagner, p. 517.
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 368.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 371.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 372.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 374.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 375.
- ^ "JAHRE VIKING/KNOCK NEVIS/SEAWISE GIANT Supertanker". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 388.
- ^ "Famous people who died in aviation accidents". www.planecrashinfo.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Indian sets balloon flight record". 26 November 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2023 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 3393.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 387.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, pp. 389-390.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, pp. 391–394.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 395.
- ISBN 0-679-72033-2, pp. 207, 211.
- ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed C-130B Hercules 23494 Bahawalpur Airport (BHV)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, pp. 398–399.
- ^ "Loading..." twaflightattendants.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ISBN 0-8133-1330-9, p. 99.
- ^ a b "Famous people who died in aviation accidents". planecrashinfo.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ NTSB. "Safety recommendation" (PDF). NTSB. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ISBN 0-7607-0592-5, p. 5.
- ^ Энергетика касатки (PDF) (in Russian). Vzlyot. p. 35. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Taylor 1988 p. [49].
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 496.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 145.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 646.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 218.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 102.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 98.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 122.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 221.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 313.
- ISBN 0-7607-0592-5, p. 58.
- ^ Lambert 1990, p. 52.
- ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ "PAN AM Flight 103" (PDF). Defense Intelligence Agency, DOI 910200, page 49/50 (Pages 7 and 8 in PDF document, see also pp. 111ff). Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- Lambert, John. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1990–91. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1990. ISBN 0-7106-0908-6.
- ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.