1920 in aviation - Definition and Overview

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1920:

Events

February

• February 1 - the South African Air Force is established as an independent air arm.
• February 4 - Pierre van Ryneveld and Quentin Brand set out in a Vickers Vimy from Cairo to cross Africa by air from North to South. They will arrive in Cape Town on March 20.
• February 5 - the Royal Air Force College is established at Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

March

• March 29 - Croydon replaces Hounslow as London's airport.

April

• April 17 - the Venezuelan air force is formed, with a flying school at Maracay

May

• May 17 - KLM and AT&T begin a joint air service between London and Amsterdam.

June

• June 4 - the US Army Reorganization Act is passed, dashing hopes for an independent air arm like Britain's Royal Air Force.

July

• July 1 - Belgium establishes the first internal air-service of any European colony with the Lara-Ligne Aérienne Roi Albert in Belgian Congo
• July 3 - the first Royal Air Force Pageant is held, at Hendon

September

• September 8 - the final leg is added to the US trans-continental airmail service, across the Rocky Mountains from Omaha to Sacramento
• September 20 - Schneider Trophy race flown at Venice, Italy. Lt. Luigi Bolgna in a Savoia S.12 is the only starter. Speed 172.6 km/h (107.3 mph).

November

• November 1 - the US Post Office awards a contract for international air mail to Aeromarine West Indies Airways.
• November 16 - QANTAS is formed at Longreach, Queensland.

First flights

April

• April 8 - de Havilland DH.18

Entered service

August

• the Fokker F.II with KLM