British Civil Aviation in 1968

February
Miss Gillian Cazalet becomes the first woman airline pilot in United Kingdom, for Skyways Coach Air.

29 March
Rolls-Royce wins a contract to supply the RB211 turbofan engine for the new Lockheed L1011 wide body transport aircraft.

2 April
An Anglo-French programme to produce Gazelle, Lynx and Puma helicopters is given the go ahead.

4 April
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle launches an appeal for donations to help found the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon in North London.

13 April
The 2,000th life is saved by Martin Baker ejector seats.

23 April
The United Kingdom withdraws from the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) space programme.

1 May
The United Kingdom Hot Air Balloon Group holds its first meeting at Blackbushe.

8 June
Dr Barnes Wallis, the a scientist and engineer famous for designing the ‘bouncing’ bomb used by 617 Squadron RAF to destroy the Möhne and Eder dams in Germany’s Ruhr district in May 1943, is knighted for his services.

31 August
The first bench test of the Rolls-Royce RB211.

30 September
C.C. Walker, the aircraft designer and engineer, dies.

6 November
The new Terminal One at Heathrow Airport is opened for limited use.