World Aviation in 1974

22 February
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Barbara Ann Allen becomes the first woman transport pilot in the United States Navy.

3 March
A McDonnell Douglas DC10 of THY Turkish Airlines crashes into forests North of Paris, killing all 346 people on board. in the world's worst air disaster to date. The crash spread wreckage over a 7 mile radius.

8 March
Charles De Gaulle Airport, 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from the centre of Paris and Europe's newest international airport, is officially opened by the French Prime Minister.

13 April
A Thor-Delta rocket launcher is used to put the first of two Westar domestic communications satellites into geostationary orbit.

23 April
Bell helicopters announces the delivery of the company's 20,000th helicopter, 80% of which have been delivered since 1964.

23 May
Europe's first wide-body airliner, an Airbus A300B2 of Air France, makes its inaugural fare paying flight from Paris to London.

4 June
Second Lieutenant Sally D. Woolfolk becomes the United States Army's first woman pilot.

20 July
Turkey makes extensive use of air power in the invasion of Cyprus.

26 August
Charles Lindbergh, who made the first non-stop solo Atlantic crossing in May 1927, dies of cancer at the age of 72.

1 September
A Lockheed SR71 Blackbird, flown by Major James V. Sullivan and Major Noel F. Widdifield, flies from Beale Air Force Base in California to Farnborough, a recorded distance of 3,490 miles in 1 hour 55 minutes 42 seconds.