Flying Blind: Enabling All-Weather Flight
The Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics was established in 1926 to address aviation issues related to education, research, technology, and the airplane’s integration into everyday life. Assisted by the government and industry, the fund set up the Full Flight Laboratory at Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York. Doolittle, with his doctorate in aeronautical engineering and experience flying experimental aircraft, joined the team as test pilot.
One major challenge Doolittle tackled was all-weather flight. He made the first “blind flight” (flying entirely by instruments), and the technologies he helped develop became standard equipment on all-weather aircraft—and remain so today.
Event Date:
Tuesday, September 24, 1929
Image Reference:
Doolittle and the First "Blind Flight"
Full Size Image Reference:
Doolittle and the First "Blind Flight"
Carousel Image Reference:
Doolittle and the First "Blind Flight"
Jimmy Doolittle
Doolittle and the Travel Air Model R “Mystery Ship.”
Sub Category:
Aviation
People Connections:
Lt. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle
Event Year:
1 929
Event Tier: