Aviation has been the most vital mode of transportation in these modern times. It plays an important role in the economy: it creates jobs, allows businesses to expand to other countries, and helps other industries, such as the tourism industry, grow. Furthermore, aviation unites people from all over the world and creates stronger ties between cultures and countries.
It is such a beneficial invention for everyone. But as unlikely as it sounds, just two centuries ago, people thought that aviation planes were impossible for mankind to achieve. The Wright brothers proved them wrong.
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright did the impossible. Covering 852 feet in 59 seconds, the Wright brothers made the first successful flight in human history. This breakthrough caught the attention of governments and automotive enthusiasts around the world.
Over the next decade, aviation aircraft technology continued to grow at a rapid rate. During this time, engineers replaced the old engines with better ones. Pilots strived for greater heights, breaking aviation’s best records by achieving faster speeds, higher altitudes, and longer flights. For them, the sky really is the limit.
Aircraft in World War I
When World War I began, aircraft were largely recognized as military equipment. This caused the increase in demand for aircraft. However, the most significant development of aircraft was during this period when engines were improved. The plane can then fly at a speed of 130 mph, twice the speed of pre-war planes.
In 1914, the aircraft was tested in battle for the first time. In the minds of many, aviation planes mean bombs, dogfights, and surveillance. Also, when the war ended, the surplus of aircraft was so great that the construction companies closed and the demand for these aircraft was reduced to zero.
The aircraft were also used in military operations. In fact, these have become the main tools in World War II, which gave rise to the term “fighter aircraft”. In 1937, the Germans were able to produce and test the first jet aircraft in history. Because it didn’t work the way the Germans initially thought it would, it took them five more years to produce a decent performing aircraft, which was too late to change the outcome of World War II.
The birth of commercial airlines
It was in 1976 that France and Great Britain introduced the commercial airline. The first commercial airliner carried more than a hundred passengers at nearly twice the speed of sound. This made the flight time from London to New York 3.5 hours, which is considerably short. However, the cost was too high and flights back then were only for the rich and privileged.
Between 1996 and 1998, Russian and American aerospace companies collaborated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in a research program aimed at developing a second-generation supersonic aircraft.
Today, aviation aircraft flights are already affordable and can be used for leisure or corporate travel. Airplanes are everywhere, and people take them for granted now. However, it is important to remember that this great invention was brought about by the courage not so long ago to challenge the traditional beliefs of the people at the time.