1920 in aviation

February
February 1 - the South African Air Force is established as an independent air arm.

February 4 - Pierre van Ryneveld and Quentin Brand set out in a Vickers Vimy from Cairo to cross Africa by air from North to South. They will arrive in Cape Town on March 20.

February 5 - the Royal Air Force College is established at Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

March
March 29 - Croydon replaces Hounslow as London's airport.

April
April 17 - the Venezuelan Air Force is formed, with a flying school at Maracay

May
May 17 - KLM and Aircraft Transport and Travel begin a joint air service between London and Amsterdam.

June
June 4 - the US Army Reorganization Act is passed, dashing hopes for an independent air arm like Britain's Royal Air Force.

July
July 1 - Belgium establishes the first internal air-service of any European colony with the Lara-Ligne Aérienne Roi Albert in Belgian Congo

July 3 - the first Royal Air Force Pageant is held, at London

July 29 - U.S. Postal Office's first transcontinental airmail flight takes off from New York

September
September 8 - the final leg is added to the US trans-continental airmail service, across the Rocky Mountains from Omaha to Sacramento

September 20 - Schneider Trophy race flown at Venice, Italy. Lt. Luigi Bolgna in a Savoia S.12 is the only starter. Speed 172.6 km/h (107.3 mph).

November
November 1 - the US Post Office awards a contract for international air mail to Aeromarine West Indies Airways.

November 16 - Qantas is formed at Longreach, Queensland.

First flights

April
April 8 - de Havilland DH.18

April 13 - Nieuport London

May
May 26 - Tarrant Tabor

September
Blackburn T.1 Swift