▁the ▁plane ▁is ▁retired ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁Air ▁Marsh al ▁Arthur ▁Con ingham . ▁Or ville ▁Wright , ▁co - in vent or ▁of ▁the ▁world ' s ▁first ▁practical ▁fixed - wing ▁aircraft , ▁dies ▁in ▁Day ton , ▁Ohio ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 7 6 . ▁ ▁February ▁ ▁Aer oc ar ▁International ▁begins ▁design ▁and ▁development ▁of ▁a ▁flying ▁autom obile ▁designed ▁by ▁M oul ton ▁Taylor . ▁ ▁Cl osed ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁and ▁re open ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁only ▁to ▁cargo ▁and ▁mail ▁fl ights , ▁L ening rad ′ s ▁Sh os se yn aya ▁Airport ▁( the ▁future ▁P ulk ovo ▁Airport ) ▁finally ▁re opens ▁to ▁scheduled ▁passenger ▁service . ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 6 ▁– ▁A ▁U . S . ▁J oint ▁Int elligence ▁Committee ▁study ▁forec asts ▁that ▁by ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁will ▁have ▁the ▁atomic ▁bomb ▁and ▁a ▁long - range ▁strateg ic ▁air ▁force ▁and ▁will ▁be ▁able ▁to ▁inf lict ▁substantial ▁damage ▁on ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁with ▁the ▁use ▁of ▁atomic , ▁chemical , ▁and ▁bi ological ▁weapons . ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 8 ▁– ▁The ▁Spanish ▁air line ▁A via co ▁is ▁formed ▁as ▁an ▁air ▁fre ight ▁company ▁operating ▁six ▁Br istol ▁ 1 7 0 s . ▁ ▁March ▁ ▁The ▁Isra eli ▁Air ▁Force