World Aviation in 1965

26 January
Brazil’s naval air arm is re-established as an independent service. It had been absorbed by the air force in 1941.

6 March
A Sikorsky SH3A Sea King makes the first non-stop helicopter flight across North America. Taking off from the carrier USS Hornet at San Diego in California, it lands on the carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt at Jacksonville in Florida. The distance travelled is 3,405 kilometres (2,116 miles) and a new international straight-line distance record for helicopters is established.

18 March
Voskhod II is launched by the Soviet Union with Pavel Belyayev and Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Leonov on board. Leonov makes first ‘space walk’, tethered to the spacecraft while floating in space for 12 minutes 9 seconds.

23 March
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Gemini 3 spacecraft carries the first American multiple crew into earth orbit. Virgil Grissom and John Young undertake the 4 hour 53 minute mission.

6 April
The Hughes Early Bird I communications satellite is launched into geo-stationary earth orbit. It becomes operational on 28 June and is the world’s first commercial satellite for public telephone calls.

1 May
Colonel R.L. Stevens, flying a Lockheed YF12A establishes a new world speed record of 3,331kph (2,070mph).

3 June
The Americans launch Gemini 4 with James McDivitt and Edward White onboard. During the mission, White makes a 21 minute space walk.

1-25 September
India and Pakistan enter into hostilities and extensive use of air power is made during the fighting.

13 September
The first hot air balloon record is homologated by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. B. Bogan of the United States reaches an altitude of 2,978 metres (9,780 feet).

15 November
The first circumnavigation of the world, over-flying both poles, is made by a Flying Tiger Line Boeing 707.

26 November
The French use a Diamant launch vehicle to send Asterix 1 a test satellite into space. France becomes the first nation after the Americans and Russians to develop and orbit a satellite by their own efforts.