17th 

1791 ..... U.S.A ..... a traffic regulation in New York City established the FIRST street to go "one-way"

1849 ….. U.K ..... Thomas and William Bowler sold their FIRST hat named after them at Lock's of St James's 

1900 ..... the FIRST reward for communicating with extra-terrestrials was announced 

1903 ..... U.S.A ..... Orville Wright made the FIRST powered flight in Flyer 1 at Kill Devil Hill in North Carolina when the plane flew 120 feet in a flight that lasted for only 12 seconds. Forty minutes later he made a second flight and flew for 175’ at low level. A third flight followed at a height of 12-14’ and then at noon Wilbur took his turn for the fourth and final flight when The Flyer eventually reached a height of about 15’ before the wind sent it diving to earth. It hit the beach, bounced and then stopped as the skids dug into the surface. Altogether The Flyer had been airborne for 15 seconds and covered 852’  

1935 ..... U.K ..... the Douglas Dakota 9 (the DC-3) flew for the FIRST time exactly 32 years after the Wright Bros flight at Kitty Hawk. The DC-3 was one of the toughest planes ever made and for the FIRST time passengers enjoyed previously unheard of facilities such as bars and hot foods. It was one of the most widely used aircraft of its time 

1986 ..... Davina Thompson became the world’s FIRST triple heart, lungs and liver transplant patient 

1999 …. the FIRST handshake took place between a British Prime Minister and a member of the Sinn Fein party in Ireland

2002 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST ever Pendolino train travelled from Euston Station in London to Manchester with passengers on board. The journey, via Crewe, took 2 hours 9 minutes and 56 seconds travelling at an average speed of 87 m.p.h