May 10

What happened on May 10 in aviation and space history.

• May 10, 1972

  First flight of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

  First flight — The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II flew for the first time on 1972-05-10.

• May 10, 2012

  The United Kingdom reverts to the F-35B after trying to switch to the F-35C

  Institutional — British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the Commons that the United Kingdom was reverting to the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B, reversing the 2010 strategic review decision to buy the F-35C. The reason was the cost of fitting catapults and arresting gear to the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, which had doubled against forecasts. The U-turn locked in the ships' ski-jump flight-deck design.