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First Airplane
flight. They also had another strategy when constructing the wings, which was called “wing warping”. This made one wing have more lift than the other, and it allowed the pilot to control the plane more effectively. When Orville and Wilbur Wright created the first successful airplane, it was a good foundation for airplane engineers to build off of and improve.
First Airplane. (n.d.). ThinkQuest. Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/J002039F/first_airplane.htm -
First Airplane
In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright created the first motor-powered airplane, and it flew on December 17, 1903. The flight lasted for only twelve seconds, and it flew a total distance of one hundred twenty feet over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The one pilot plane was constructed out of wood and fabric, and the engine was an aluminum crankcase, which held a 12 horsepower motor. They created the wings based on a wire-like structure, and by doing that, they hoped that it would not flex during the -
First Airplane
The Wright Brothers | Designing the Flyer. (n.d.). The Wright Brothers | Designing the Flyer. Retrieved from http://airandspace.si.edu/wrightbrothers/fly/1903/construction.cfm
Perles, C. (2009, April 08). How Did the First Airplane Work? EHow. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4899259_how-did-first-airplane-work.html -
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Evolution of Airplanes
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First Metal Airplane
In 1917, an all-metal airplane was created, the Junkers J4. Hugo Junker, the designer of the Junkers J4, built this plane out of duralumin, lightweight aluminum. Aeronautical engineers discovered that there were several advantages of using metal over the previous wood ones. Metal was more durable, it protected the aircraft from fire, did not corrode, did not absorb sun or moisture, and it provided the aircraft with a sturdy structure. -
First Metal Airplane
Also, it was malleable, easy to work with, and the metal allowed engineers to quickly repair damaged parts of the airplane. Overall, switching the material from wood to metal made airplanes more durable during their flights.
Metal-Skinned Aircraft. (n.d.). Metal-Skinned Aircraft. Retrieved from http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/metal_plane/Tech15.htm -
First Metal Airplane
Airplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.).Airplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3728All-Metal Aircraft Construction. (n.d.). All-Metal Aircraft Construction. Retrieved from http://www.zenithair.com/kit-data/allmetal.htm
Military. (n.d.). From Wood to Metal. Retrieved from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/intro-wood.htm -
First Radar
airplane models, the older ones did not have a radar system, so pilots were not aware of their surroundings.
Google Images. (n.d.). Google Images. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/imgres?start=101
obert Watson-Watt. (n.d.). Robert Watson-Watt. Retrieved from http://www.nndb.com/people/058/000206437/ -
First Radar
In 1935, Robert Watson-Watt, former meteorologist, patented the first radar. The term radar was short for “radio detection and ranging.” The system that he invented was called “Chain Home”. This system was frequently used in World War II to track incoming aircrafts and provide information about nearby bombers. It was also used for weather and location purposes. Radars were most useful during wars or battles, because the pilots could detect bombers miles away from their plane. Unlike the newer -
First Jet Engines
In 1937, Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain designed the first jet engine, which was made up of a fan, compressor, combustor, turbine, and nozzle. On August 27, the Heinkel HE 178 was the first aircraft to successfully fly with von Ohain’s HE S-3 jet engine. This innovation helped airplanes fly faster and more efficiently, because the engines were more powerful. The jet engines were also compact in size and simple to design. -
First Jet Engines
Airplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.).Airplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3728
Development of the jet engine. (n.d.). Development of the Jet Engine. Retrieved from http://www.pilotfriend.com/aero_engines/aero_jet.htm
Development of the jet engine. (n.d.). Development of the Jet Engine. Retrieved from http://www.pilotfriend.com/aero_engines/aero_jet.htm -
Commercial Airplanes
Boeing 747 Aircraft Facts, Dates and History. (n.d.). Boeing 747 Aircraft Facts, Dates and History. Retrieved from http://www.flightlevel350.com/Boeing-747_aircraft_facts.htmlAirplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.).Airplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3728 -
Commerical Airplanes
In 1949, the first jet-powered commercial aircraft took flight on July 27, 1949. In 1969, twenty years later, the Boeing 747 was the first commercial airplane that had a wide-body and turbofan-powered engines. This aircraft was one of the most successful ones produced. It had four engines, two decks, and it flew at high speeds. By creating the first commerical aircraft, this was the first step toward passenger transporation. This was something airplane engineers never thought about until now. -
First Airplanes Difficult To Detect By Radar
In the 1990s, Northrop Grumman developed the B-2 bomber, which was made out of composite materials rather than metal. This could not be detected using conventional radar. Composite materials were the second most important material engineers used when building airplanes, and the most common composite material was fiberglass. Compared to older airplanes constructed out of wood and metal, composite materials were lightweight, strong, more aerodynamic, and simple to assemble. The lighter the airplan -
First Airplanes Difficult To Detect By Radar
e, the less fuel it burned; this was very important to Aeronautical engineers. Around this time period, another plane was designed that was also difficult to detect by radar, the F-117 stealth fighter. These types of planes were mainly used for military purposes, because other planes could not detect their bomber planes on the radar.
Metal-Skinned Aircraft. (n.d.). Metal-Skinned Aircraft. Retrieved from http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/metal_plane/Tech15.htm -
First Airplanes Difficult To Detect By Radar
Military. (n.d.). From Wood to Metal. Retrieved from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/intro-wood.htmAirplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.).Airplane Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3728All-Metal Aircraft Construction. (n.d.). All-Metal Aircraft Construction. Retrieved from http://www.zenithair.com/kit-data/allmetal.htm -
A380: A New Airplane
In September of 2012, an eco-friendly family airplane was created, A380. It produces only 75g of CO2 per passenger kilometer. This is well below international limits. The A380 flies higher, further, and quieter than most other airplanes. The cabin air gets recycled every three minutes to keep the atmosphere fresh, it is naturally lighted, and it has a low fuel burn. Also, this double-deck jetliner has a cockpit with the latest technology. Moreover, the A380 makes the passengers’ rides more -
A380: A New Airplane
comfortable by providing them with broader seats, personal storage spaces, better head room, and wider stairs and aisles. Overall, this airplane is one of the most advanced created to date. Unlike, the first commercial airplanes, this plane had many new and innovative features.
Aircraft: Technology and Innovation, Range, Specifications, Cabin Space & Comfort. Retrieved from http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a380family/a380-800/
