Way back when: Today in history
BY GENE CURTIS
Friday, January 18, 2013
1/18/13 at 2:54 AM
1957 - Around the world
Three eight-engine B-52 Stratofortresses landed at 80-second intervals at March Air Force Base, Calif., after nonstop, around-the-world flights that the Air Force said was made to demonstrate its "capability to drop a hydrogen bomb anywhere in the world." A secondary purpose of the 24,325-mile flight was to impress a Congress that was preparing to consider appropriations for the armed forces. The 45-hour, 19-minute trip was the first nonstop flight around the world by jet airplanes and required less than half the time of a propeller-driven B-50 in 1949.
1995 - Glacial era art found
The discovery of a series of caves containing paintings and engravings dating to the Paleolithic era about 260 miles south of Paris was announced by France. One of the caves, 1,500 feet deep, contained about 300 prehistoric wall paintings of bison, reindeer and rhinoceroses that existed in the region during the glacial era about 20,000 years ago. Officials said the discovery was kept secret until the caves could be blocked off to keep out unwanted visitors.
1998 - Tulsa marks 100th
A year-long celebration marking Tulsa's 100th year ended with a bang, including a spectacular fireworks show that lit up downtown. At noon, families stopped on church steps, pedestrians stood still on sidewalks, cars pulled over and drivers rolled down the windows to let the sound of a hundred church bells drift in. And Tulsa gave thanks in many different ways. It was a sure sign that the Rev. Robert Loughridge got his message through after all. When the traveling Presbyterian minister delivered Tulsa's first sermon back in 1883, he was almost drowned out by jeers and heckles from unruly gamblers. He reportedly left town wondering if he had achieved any good. A hundred years later, the Rev. James Miller preached to a large - and polite - audience at First Presbyterian, the church that grew out of Loughridge's effort.
2005 - Largest plane unveiled
The world's largest commercial jet, a double-decker Airbus A380 with a capacity of 800 passengers, was unveiled in Toulouse, France. Airbus invested $13 billion and received additional funding from European governments to develop the plane, which has a list price of $280 million.
Its first commercial flight was scheduled for 2006.
Associated Images:
Mayor Susan Savage blows out candles on Tulsa's 100th anniversary cake. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World file
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