What Day Is August 27? World's First Jet Aircraft Flight (1939)
August 27 is the 239th day of the year. In 1939, the Heinkel He 178 made the world's first successful flight by a turbojet-powered aircraft. In 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth in approximately 60,000 years.
About August 27
August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (240th in a leap year). There are 126 days remaining until the end of the year.
The significance of August 27
Early on the morning of August 27, 1939, Erich Warsitz climbed into the Heinkel He 178 at Marienehe aerodrome near Rostock. The engine in the nose was the HeS 3B, designed by Hans von Ohain: no pistons, no propeller, just compressed air and combustion. The flight lasted only a few minutes, but it was the world’s first successful turbojet-powered flight. The technology was kept secret during the war; by the 1950s, jet airliners were carrying passengers across the Atlantic. Today over five billion people a year board jet aircraft. The Catholic Church celebrates St. Monica on August 27, the date of her death in 387 AD in Ostia. Monica spent 17 years in prayer for her son Augustine’s conversion; when he finally accepted baptism in 387, she died days later. In 2003, Mars shone brighter than it had in 60,000 years on this date.
Get this day by email
We'll remind you of August 27 every year.
On This Day in History
- 1939The Heinkel He 178 made the world's first flight by a jet aircraft, piloted by Erich Warsitz at Marienehe aerodrome near Rostock, Germany. The engine was designed by Hans von Ohain.
- 2003Mars reached its closest approach to Earth in approximately 59,619 years, at a distance of 55.76 million km. The planet appeared larger and brighter than it had in nearly 60,000 years.
Baby Names for This Day
August 27 is the feast of St. Monica and the anniversary of the first jet flight. Names connected to this date:
- MonicaGirl
St. Monica (332-387), mother of St. Augustine, whose persistent prayers over 17 years led to her son's conversion; she died August 27, 387. Patron of mothers.
- AugustineBoy
Monica's son, one of the greatest theologians in Christian history; his 'Confessions' begins with the line 'our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee'.
- ErichBoy
Erich Warsitz, the test pilot who flew the He 178 on August 27, 1939, becoming the first person to fly a turbojet aircraft.
- HansBoy
Hans von Ohain, who designed the HeS 3B turbojet engine that powered the He 178.
- MarsBoy
The planet that came closer to Earth on August 27, 2003, than it had in 60,000 years.
- JetUnisex
The first turbojet flight on August 27, 1939, started the aviation revolution that now carries five billion passengers a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is August 27?add
August 27 is the day the world's first jet aircraft, the Heinkel He 178, flew (1939). Mars reached its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years (2003). The feast of St. Monica. The 239th day of the year.
What number day of the year is August 27?add
August 27 is the 239th day of the year, or the 240th in a leap year, with 126 days remaining.
What zodiac sign is August 27?add
August 27 is Virgo, which runs from August 23 to September 22.