1948 in aviation

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1948:

Events

the Israeli Air Force is formed, with the new state of Israel
March 10 - VF-5 becomes the first US Navy carrier squadron to be equipped with jets.
March 19 - BOAC extends its Hong Kong service to Japan
March 23 - Grp Cpt John Cunningham sets a new world altitude record of 59,446 ft (18,119 m) in a de Havilland Vampire.
March 28 - B-29 Superfortresses undergo aerial refueling tests, demonstrating the viability of this technique to extend the range of strategic bombers.

two specially modified Gloster Meteors begin carrier trials aboard HMS Implacable.
April 3 - Alitalia recommences services to the UK
April 25 - a North American YP-86 becomes the first jet-powered aircraft to exceed Mach 1.

May 15 - Tel Aviv is attacked by the Egyptian Air Force. The Israeli Air Force retaliates by striking Arab troops near Samakh.

June 1 - BEA commences the first helicopter airmail service in the UK
June 8 - Air India commences a regular Bombay-London service by Lockheed Constellation.
June 26 - the Berlin Airlift begins, with USAF, Royal Air Force, and British civil transport aircraft carrying supplies into West Berlin
June 28 - Sdn Ldr Basil Arkel sets a new helicopter speed record of 124 mph (200 km/h) in a Fairey Gyrodyne.

July 6 - the US Navy's first two carrier-based AEW squadrons are formed, VAW-1 and VAW-2.
July 14 - Vampire F3s of No. 54 Squadron RAF became the first jet aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The six aircraft, commanded by Wg Cdr D S Wilson-MacDonald, DSO, DFC, go via Stornoway, Iceland and Labrador to Montreal on the first leg of a goodwill tour of Canada and the US where they gave several formation aerobatic displays.
July 14 - Silver City Airways makes the first car-carrying flight between England and France.

September 5 - a US Navy Martin JRM Mars sets a new cargo record of 62,262 lb (28,242 kg)
September 6 - a de Havilland DH.108 breaks the sound barrier, the first British aircraft to do so.