Making it's first commercial flight with Pan Am on October 26th, 1958, the Boeing 707 marked a dramatic leap in air travel. Compared to the piston-powered DC-7 or Super Constellation, which cruised around 480 km/h with a range of 6,000 km, the 707 flew at nearly 970 km/h and reached 8,000 km, cutting transatlantic travel times by half. Its swept wings, pressurized fuselage, and jet engines defined the modern airliner. With Pan Am as launch customer, the 707’s blend of speed, comfort, and efficiency ushered in the Jet Age, transforming global connectivity forever.
The Boeing 747 carried forward the legacy of the 707, expanding jet travel into the true global era with greater range, capacity, and comfort. Curtiss-Wright, an OEM on the 747 program, continues to support the “Queen of the Skies” through specialized MRO services that keep these iconic aircraft flying safely and efficiently.
Founded on 7 October 1919, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. Created by Albert Plesman with royal support, KLM began with a DH.16 flight from London to Amsterdam in 1920. In 1924, it pioneered long-distance service to Batavia (Jakarta), linking Europe and Asia. Post-WWII, KLM rebuilt swiftly, launching Europe’s first transatlantic service to New York in 1946. Embracing the jet age, it introduced DC-8s and 747s, then merged with Air France in 2004.
In October 1957, TWA Flight 850 operated by a Lockheed L-1649A Starliner from Paris to San Francisco, setting a record for the world’s longest nonstop commercial flight— 8,638 km (5,368 mi) in 23 hours 19 minutes. It was a triumph of piston-engine endurance, battling headwinds and relying on celestial navigation and meticulous fuel management. Six decades later, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ21 from Singapore to Newark redefined the frontier of nonstop travel. Flying an Airbus A350-900ULR, it covers 15,349 km (9,537 mi) in around 18 hours 30 minutes, nearly twice the distance in less time. The difference captures aviation’s evolution: from propeller-driven luxury with limited range to fuel-efficient composite jets using satellite navigation and optimized routing. TWA’s 1957 feat marked the pinnacle of piston-power; Singapore’s ultra-long-haul service symbolizes the comfort, reliability, and global reach of modern commercial aviation.
In October 1911, aviation pioneer Glenn Hammond Curtiss received Pilot License No. 1 from the newly formed Aero Club of America, affiliated with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Although the Wright brothers had flown earlier, Curtiss was the first officially licensed pilot in the United States. A motorcycle champion turned aircraft innovator, he demonstrated precision flying and engineering skill that helped legitimize aviation as a regulated pursuit, marking a milestone in America’s journey toward controlled, certified flight.
First flown on October 14, 1938, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk embodied a leap in American fighter design. Based on the earlier P-36 Hawk, it innovatively replaced the radial engine with an inline Allison V-1710, giving a streamlined profile and improved high-speed performance. The P-40 was one of the first all-metal, low-wing monoplanes to serve widely in combat, featuring retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed cockpit, and integrated armament in the wings. Though outclassed later, its ruggedness, diving power, and adaptability made it vital in early WWII theatres—from the Flying Tigers in China to North Africa and the Pacific.
