Discover events in American history – plus the stamps that make them come alive.
Today’s Article
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May 2, 2026
Maiden Flight of First Commercial Jet Airliner
On May 2, 1952, the world’s first commercial jet airliner, the de Havilland Comet 1, began its maiden airline service from London to Johannesburg. The flight opened a new chapter in passenger travel, showing that jet power could move paying customers faster and higher than piston-engine airliners. Commercial aviation entered the jet age.
