Jimmy Doolittle flew an Army Air Corps NY-2 Husky for the attempt. [Courtesy: Jimmy Doolittle's book - CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED/Wikimedia Commons]
Key Takeaways:
U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Jimmy Doolittle performed the first "blind" takeoff and landing on September 24, 1929.
The pioneering flight took place at Mitchel Field, Long Island, with Doolittle relying entirely on cockpit instruments as the back cockpit was covered.
He utilized a directional gyro, artificial horizon, sensitive altimeter, and radio navigation to maintain situational awareness.
Lieutenant Benjamin Kelsey acted as a safety pilot, keeping his arms raised to confirm Doolittle was solely piloting the aircraft.
Question: Who was the first to make a ‘blind’ takeoff and landing?
Answer: The first “blind” takeoff and landing—that is, flight without being able to see outside the airplane—was performed on September 24, 1929, by U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Jimmy Doolittle.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
