One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University

1957
1957
January 18: Commanded by Maj. Gen. Archie J. Old, Jr., USAF, three B–52
Stratofortresses completed the first around-the-world nonstop flight by
jet aircraft. The bombers covered the 24,325-mile distance in 45 hours
and 19 minutes, flying at an average speed of 534 miles per hour. The
National Aeronautic Association recognized this flight, called Operation
POWER FLITE, as the most outstanding for 1957 and awarded
the Mackay Trophy to the 93d Strategic Bombardment Wing.
June 2: Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., USAF, established the altitudeendurance
record for manned lighter-than-air aircraft by remaining
aloft in a balloon over Minnesota for six hours, 34 minutes. He spent
two hours above 96,000 feet.
June 11: The first U–2 high-altitude, long-range reconnaissance aircraft was
delivered to the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Laughlin
Air Force Base, Texas. The U–2 could fly 10-hour missions at exceptionally
high altitudes at a top speed of 600 miles per hour.
June 28: Assigned to the 93d Air Refueling Squadron, the first KC–135 Stratotanker
arrived at Castle Air Force Base, California. The jet tanker
could cruise at the same speed as jet bombers while refueling, drastically
reducing the time for in-flight refueling missions.
The KC–135 Stratotanker, the first jet tanker in the USAF inventory, refueled a
variety of aircraft, including F–16 fighters, pictured here.
80