Commemorating air sports and spaceflight records and achievements in 2024
Throughout the year 2024, FAI will celebrate the anniversaries of outstanding records and achievements in air sports and spaceflight, highlighting them through a series of articles and social media messages.
Important feats to recognise for 2024 include:
- The first helicopter record ever ratified by FAI: Etienne Oehmichen’s flight in 1924
- The first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by Joseph Kittinger in 1984 – a Distance record
- Bruce McCandless’ first untethered spacewalk in 1984
- The record-breaking parachute jump by Alan Eustace from an altitude of 41 422 m in 2014 (top picture)
Exceptional records
Drawing up rules, and controlling and ratifying aeronautical and astronautical world and continental records are pivotal aspects of FAI activities. Since the first record-setting flights were recorded in 1906, the FAI has ratified thousands of records. In commemorating record anniversaries, the World Air Sports Federation also aims to honour the exceptional individuals behind these achievements and highlight the remarkable stories that led them towards gaining their place in the history books.
Momentous achievements and firsts
FAI will also commemorate outstanding achievements and firsts dating back to as early as the 19th century. Symbolising the triumph of human determination, bravery, and skill, they mark milestones in the history of air sports and space exploration.
Below is a full list of all the anniversaries to mark in 2024:
|
Sport |
Date |
Pilots |
Achievement |
Performance |
Status |
File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Microlights |
21 January 2014 |
Alexis ANASTASIOU/Petros PRINTEZIS (GRE) |
Altitude record in a microlight flown by two persons |
7 608 m |
Current |
|
|
Space |
7 February 1984 |
Bruce McCANDLESS (USA) |
First untethered spacewalk |
- |
Not a record |
- |
|
Ballooning |
9 February 2014 |
Sandra ROLFE (CAN) |
Female Duration record |
4h 17m 42s |
Current |
|
|
Rotorcraft |
14 April 1924 |
Etienne OEHMICHEN (FRA) |
First helicopter record; Straight Distance record |
360 m |
Superseded |
|
|
Gliding |
25 April 2023 |
Baptiste INNOCENT (FRA) |
Free Triangle Distance record - flight above the Mediterranean Sea |
1 407,06 km |
Current - European record |
|
|
Paragliding |
1 May 2014 |
Seiko FUKUOKA NAVILLE (FRA) |
Speed over a triangular course of 150km - female record |
32,68 km/h |
Current |
|
|
Ballooning |
4 June 1784 |
Elisabeth THIBLE (FRA) |
First female onboard a balloon in free flight |
- |
Not a record |
- |
|
Ballooning |
15 September 1984 |
Joseph KITTINGER (USA) |
First solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic; Distance record |
5 703,03 km |
Current |
|
|
General aviation |
28 September 1924 |
Lowell SMITH/Leslie ARNOLD; Erik NELSON/John HARDING Jr. (USA) |
First flight around the world (started on 6 April 1924) - 2 planes |
- |
Not a record |
- |
|
Parachuting |
24 October 2014 |
Alan EUSTACE (USA) |
Exit Altitude |
41 422 m / |
Current |
|
|
Ballooning |
27 October 2004 |
Steve FOSSETT (USA) |
Speed record in a rigid airship |
115 km/h |
Current |
|
|
Parachuting |
20 November 1974 |
Rolayne MATTSON, Patricia DAVIS, Jeannie McCOMBS, Nancy GRUTTMAN, Linda PADGETT-HEATH, Pat PITCHER, Mary HOLDREDGE, Helen TYSON-FRASER, Ruth LANIER, Donna WARDEAN, Patty WICKLIFFE, Karen COLLETT, Dianne MARSH, Debra ZWEIFEL, Charmian CLIFF, Betty HAWKINS |
First Female Largest Formation Record in Skydiving |
16 skydivers |
Superseded |
