Timeline For Aircraft Carrier Service - Pre-Carrier History

Pre-Carrier History

1907

• The British Admiralty, according to legend, politely refused the Wright brothers' offer to sell them one or more aircraft, by saying that they could see no place for aviation in naval circles.

1910

• 14 November — First successful launch of an aircraft from a ship, using a temporary wooden platform for a flight deck on the cruiser USS Birmingham.

1911

• 18 January — First deck landing, using a temporary wooden platform on USS Pennsylvania; first use of a tailhook-arrested landing system.

1912

• January — First launch of an aircraft from a British ship, HMS Africa.
• 2 May — First recorded flight from a moving ship, HMS Hibernia, steaming at 10.5 knots.