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Pilots,
The world of naval aviation wouldn’t be as we know it today, if it weren’t for the dedication and fearlessness of one man: Eugene Burton Ely. If you haven’t heard the name before, it’s probably because the daring pilot only had a brief stint on the global aviation scene, before paying the ultimate price for his amazing accomplishments. Nevertheless, during his short lifespan, Ely managed to achieve great things, including the first landing of a fixed wing aircraft on a ship, which is why we chose to remember him today. Enjoy rich boosts to your XP income as well as amazing discounts during this dedicated history special!
‘The Eagle Has Landed’ Special | ||
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All offers and missions will be available |
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Triple XP for the first victory of the day for every plane
Just as Ely gained experience with every flight, you too can gain more XP with every sortie!
50% discount on the following planes:
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Blackburn Skua |
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Grumman F3F |
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Mitsubishi A5M |
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Brewster F2A Buffalo |
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Curtiss P-36 Hawk |
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Mitsubishi A6M1 Zero |
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Grumman F4F Wildcat |
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Curtiss P-40 Warhawk |
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Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero |
Enjoy a generous discount on some of the most prominent in-game aircraft capable of landing on carriers.
30% discount on the following planes:
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Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair |
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Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero |
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Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair |
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Mitsubishi A7M Reppu |
These four iconic aircraft have had their fair share of take-offs and landings from ships. Fly them today!
50% discount on the following Premium Aircraft:
Another two carrier-based superstars, both American Premium aircraft, are discounted for you today. Get them while they’re cheap!
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Grumman XF4F-3, Tier IV U.S. Fighter |
1,200 Gold 50% off! 600 |
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Chance-Vought XF4U-1, Tier V U.S. Fighter |
1,650 Gold 50% off! 825 |
Do you feel like adding to your overall progression in the game? Concentrate on these two missions and give yourself a helping hand!
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Mission 1: Pilots at Sea | |
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Goal |
Win a battle on any one of the following maps:
A battle counts only if you are one of the top 10 experience earners on your team. |
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Reward |
Triple Crew XP for the battle |
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Conditions |
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Mission 2: Landing Gear Deployed! | |
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Goal |
Destroy at least 3 enemy aircraft in one battle and win the battle flying the required aircraft. |
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Reward |
1 x Automatic Fire Extinguisher |
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Conditions |
The mission is only available in Standard Battles. Must be flying any of the following aircraft:
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Eugene Burton Ely (1886-1911) was an American aviation pioneer from Iowa. The self-taught pilot developed an interest for flying at a very young age and made a career out of his passion by attempting the most daring aerial acrobatics. He first made a name for himself when he attempted the ‘Thousand Mile Flight’ from Chicago to New York – a distance so large that it seemed impossible at the time for any man to travel it by aircraft. Indeed, even young Ely failed at this immense undertaking, crashing time after time due to engine failure merely a dozen miles from his starting point. However, this didn’t deter him from looking for even greater challenges as he continued with exhibition flying in search of new ways to prove himself.
His great moment came on 14 November 1910 when he pulled off the first successful unassisted airplane take-off in history, from the wooden deck of the USS Birmingham – albeit barely. His aircraft dipped dangerously low towards the sea with the wheels briefly touching the water, splashing upward and obscuring Ely’s vision. He flew his aircraft practically blind to the adjacent beach, where he landed immediately – more out of necessity than by choice. Nevertheless the feat was done: he had successfully taken off from a ship, demonstrating that plane use on carriers was possible – an achievement for which he received widespread acclaim from both the public and military officials keen on developing the nascent naval aviation.
Merely a few months later, on 18 January 1911, Ely travelled to San Francisco where he went on to become the first man to successfully land an airplane on a ship, the USS Pennsylvania. The heavy cruiser had previously been equipped with a landing deck and a dedicated hooking system on the runway to decelerate the plane during touchdown. Ely accomplished the manoeuvre flawlessly and, on that same day, repeated his achievement from before, taking off from the ship and steering his plane across the bay towards a nearby airfield.
Eugene Ely starting (left), landing (middle) and flying (right) his Curtiss Pusher aircraft.
Unfortunately, the daring aviator’s life was cut short soon after this feat, when his plane spiralled out of control during an exhibition flight. Still, his audacious flying style and foolhardy courage to attempt the most challenging manoeuvres for his time, earned him a permanent spot in the aviation legends hall of fame, where we celebrate Eugene Ely’s achievements to this very day.
No matter how inspired you feel, don’t try landing on a carrier in World of Warplanes, pilots!
