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In 1886, Clement Ader created the first steam powered aircraft. During this time, planes were known as gliders because they did not have any engines. The design consisted of a wood frame and fixed wings. -
In 1903, the Wright Brothers created the first engine powered aircraft that flew for 37 meters. The frame was wood with the engine case being made from aluminum. The Wright Brothers acted as engineers by designing different planes to test to see how materials and frames would increase the planes distance traveled. -
1914 also saw an advancement in larger aircrafts. In order to accommodate commercial flights, engineers needed to make new advancements in propellers. They attempted many designs including larger propellers. -
In 1914, people wanted to travel farther distances with planes. This then led aircrafts to adopt the propeller based technology that allowed for the plane to travel farther distances. Airplanes also started to be made with metal frames for farther distances which provided more strength. -
This era of aircrafts was symbolized by the testing of new designs which included larger propellers. This design allowed new solo flights across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and around the world. This technology would then later be applied to commercial use to allow for aircrafts to be used as a way to transport people around the world.
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In 1929, the aircraft named Dornier Do X was a large aircraft that had 12 engines which allowed it to carry 169 passengers. This shows the advancements of larger and more powerful aircrafts. Engineers developed many types of designs during this era to try to make commercial flights possible and available to the public. The picture shows one way engineers tested more engines on a larger aircraft. -
In 1936, the aircraft named Douglas DC-3 became the first profitable commercial flight due to its increase in speed from its engines. This led it to travel farther distances and increased reliability. It was a long wing design with twin engines. This was such an efficient design that it could act as a glider as well. -
In 1951, the first passenger aircraft using jet engines was introduced. Jet engine technology started being tested in the 1930's but was not commercially used until the 1952. The first jet engines had many issues related to its design and took many attempts to make it successful. Today, a majority of aircrafts use jet engines. -
In 1957, the Boeing 707 was released and become highly successful. This plane changed the flap design, moved the engines under the wings, and had a wider fuselage because of consumers needs which made it more efficient. -
In 1967, the Boeing 737 series launched and had more efficient engines which allowed for it to have 2 instead of 4. The plane was also wider allowing for six abreast seating. The engine design and seating allowed for cheaper flying prices. These aircrafts show how the design process allowed engineers to make aircrafts with fewer engines while making the body of the pane larger. -
In the 1970s, the Boeing 747 entered the market as a double decker plane. These airplanes not only have a stronger and heavier frame to support the second deck but also a new engine. The new engine was a high bypass turbofan design that allowed for the heavier airplane to be flown. This design also led to premium cabin offerings, cheaper prices, nose loading, and longer routes. -
Liquid Oxygen combined with ethyl alcohol allowed for the introduction of rocket based engines. These designs made airplanes have extra power and lower wingspans. However, the supersonic planes were phased out of use due to the high operating costs. This shows the design process of making a new type of aircraft but unfortunately was too costly for consumers. -
Currently, aircrafts are focusing on creating more powerful engines that use composite materials for their design to improve efficiency and environmental impacts. These composite materials also lead to a lighter aircraft. -
Aircraft companies are searching for new ways to improve aircraft technologies. Some technologies they are testing include battery power, hydrogen power, and large scale change in fuel storage. An increase in supersonic aircrafts has also returned. Engineers will continue the design process of making more efficient aircrafts while continuing to find new technologies for giving the plane power.