Doolittle Flies Blind: Instruments-Only Flight Proven
Jimmy Doolittle took off, flew a complete circuit, and landed at Mitchel Field — all without once looking outside the cockpit. Every input came from instruments alone: a Sperry gyroscope, a radio altimeter, and a directional indicator newly developed for the test. His copilot sat in the front seat as a safety backup but never touched the controls. The flight lasted 15 minutes. Doolittle called it 'the most important flight I've ever made.' Twelve years later he'd lead the Tokyo Raid. But this quiet, blind rectangle over Long Island changed how every pilot after him flew.
September 25, 1929
97 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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