Before digital screens and a huge catalog of movies for passengers
to choose from, in-flight entertainment looked rather different too.

1925

On September 21, 1942, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress made its
debut flight in Seattle, Washington. It was the largest bomber
used in the war by any nation.        
        
        
        
        
   
The B-29 was conceived in 1939 by Gen. Hap Arnold.

On September 17, 1976, NASA publicly unveiled its first space
shuttle, the Enterprise, during a ceremony in Palmdale, California. Development of the aircraft-like spacecraft cost almost $10
billion and took nearly a decade. In 1977, the Enterprise became
the first space shuttle to fly freely when it was lifted to a height
of 25,000 feet by a Boeing 747 airplane and then released, gliding
back to Edwards Air Force Base on its own accord.

Regular flights of the space shuttle began on April 12, 1981, with
the launching of Columbia from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Boeing was founded by William Boeing in Seattle, Washington,
on July 15, 1916.The present corporation is the result of the
merger of Boeing with McDonnell Douglas on August 1, 1997.

Then–chairman and CEO of Boeing, Philip M. Condit, assumed
those roles in the combined company, while Harry Stonecipher,
former CEO of McDonnell Douglas, became president and COO.    
                                                                                             

As of 2023, the Boeing Company’s corporate headquarters is
located in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia^,   

      
    
    
    
    
 
William Edward Boeing
(October 1, 1881 – September 28, 1956)

After successfully building a float plane together
with Commander George Conrad Westerveldt,
William Boeing founded a new aircraft company
bearing his name. It was his intention for Boeing
Aircraft to fulfill a US Navy contract for seaplanes.

"Top Gun," a triumphant all-American pre-"woke" Hollywood
movie classic, was released on this day in history, May 16,
1986.

MovieWeb.com wrote in a 2022 retrospective of the silver-
screen sensation … "When ‘Top Gun’ hit the box office in
1986, it quickly rose to the top of the charts, drawing a
great deal of attention to the film and the cast."

"The film became an instant classic thanks to the award-
winning soundtrack and some of the best aerial scenes
to ever hit the big screen."