World Aviation in 1929

20 May
The Peruvian Army and Naval Air Services are amalgamated into the Cuerpo de Aeronautica del Perú.

3 July
A successful conclusion to the ‘parasite’ trials is reached when a modified Vought VO-1, flown by Lieutenant A.W. Gordon, hooks onto United States Navy (USN) airship ‘Los Angeles’.

17 July
American Dr Robert H. Goddard successfully launches a camera equipped rocket.

25 July
The Dornier DoX makes its first flight.

8-29 August
German LZ127 Graf Zeppelin makes the first airship circumnavigation of the world. It leaves and returns to Lakehurst in New Jersey. The journey takes 21 days 5 hours 31 minutes and goes via Germany, Japan and Los Angeles. The distance covered is 35,200 kilometres (21,873 miles).

24 September
‘Blind flying’ Lieutenant James H. Doolittle flies on instruments only, at Mitchell Field in New York.

30 September
Opel-Hatry Rak-1, a rocket-powered glider (sailplane) flies 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) near Frankfurt in Germany. The glider, piloted by Fritz von Opel, reaches a speed of 1,260kph (100mph)

21 October
The Dornier DoX establishes a record by taking off with 10 crew, 150 passengers and 9 stowaways.

28-29 November
Floyd Bennett, Commander Byrd, Bernt Balchen, Ashley McKinley and Harold June make the first flight over the South Pol, flying a Ford 4-AT Triplane, .

Also this year…
The first Link Trainer, the world’s first electro-mechanical flight simulator, designed American Edward Albert Link, is sold.

German professor Herman J. Oberth completes his first liquid propellant rocket while living in Berlin. He later goes on to work on the A-4/V-2 rocket.

The Guatemalian Cuerpo de Aéronautica Militar air service is formed.