Americans and the Airplane
Bornak, Tyler M., CIS270WX-01
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1.1 Introduction
Since the beginning of mankind, humans have always questioned their origins. Often they would look to the sky and ponder what answers lie there. As technology progressed throughout history, man never thought that flight or aerial travel was ever possible, often seeing such things as “magic”. However, during the early 19th century mankind took its first steps into the air with the creation of the airplane. This advancement would later lead to greater advancements, ultimately allowing mankind to go further than the skies – to the stars. The United States of America was one of the world’s first innovators in the creation of the airplane and as such, was the first one to greatly benefit from the technology. With the airplane, Americans were able to advance communication and more importantly secure their seat at the world table as one of the most powerful countries in the world.
1.2 History of the Technology
Before the airplane, other great inventors and innovators of the world attempted to go to the skies. Flight was first realized with a hot air balloon in 1783. It was great for sightseeing but not effective for travel as there was no way for the pilot to control where the balloon went. After, Sir George Cayel created the first glider but this again was ineffective, as the pilot could not control where the craft went. It was then on December 17, 1903 that Orville and Wilbur Wright had successfully created the first airplane that flew 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds. The first scheduled air service began in Florida in 1914.
Figure 1: Wright brothers with their first airplane design at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Taking from the Wright brothers’ design, Glen Curtiss had designed a plane that could take off and land on water. As such, it could be built larger than any plane to date. World War I caused great enhancements to the airplane technology due to demands in increments in efficiency, speed, altitude capability, and manoeuvrability. An important distinction for this era for the technology was that commercial aviation was pushed aside in lieu of military efficiency. Towards the end of the war, the United States government felt that airplane technology progressed enough to the point that airliner could be used to transport mail. Shortly after, Boeing built the first modern passenger airliner in 1933. This bore the age of modern airliner transportation. Airplane technology would continue to develop until a breakthrough happened in 1930. British pilot Frank Whittle designed the first jet engine. He improved his design and in 1942, shipped an engine prototype to General Electric in the United States. America’s first jet plane would be built the following year. This led to an era of jet planes.
1.3 Impact of Airplanes
Airplanes were perhaps the most useful transportation technology ever created by the United States for various reasons. The most obvious reason is that it made transportation to and from places easier and more efficient – people could go farther, faster. But airplanes had other impacts on American society. Contending with railroads as a transportation method, the U.S. government saw fit to use airlines to transport mail. The need for faster mail delivery caused Congress to pay for an experimental mail service conducted jointly by the Army and the United States Post Office between Washington and New York. The USPS wanted to eventually go to a transcontinental air service and they did with 22 hours being shaved off coast-to-coast deliveries. Economically, the airplane allowed for companies such as United Airlines and Boeing to come to fruition by creating what we would consider modern day airliners. Perhaps the greatest impact airplanes played in America is militarily. Planes were first used in World War I to great effect causing much death. World War II followed with even greater efficiency and the creation of the first jet engine. The Nazi war machine was advancing their technology and began using jet engines to combat Allied fighters. The Allies, needing to compete, then developed jet engines. Once the jet engine was created, this led to modern day jet fighters such as the F-35.
Figure 2: F-35 Jet Fighter in the sky
People impacted the airplane as well. With its creation, humans saw a new world open: the skies. This led to a whole new era of innovation. However, the single greatest cause for humans impact on the skies and the airplane is war. Humans innate thirst for violence and war is the leading factor in the change in airplane technology – so they could kill better.
1.4 Conclusion
It could be argued that the airplane was the greatest innovation of the 20th century. Starting with the Wright brothers in the early 1900s, airplanes would go on to make great improvements in the United States’ economy, military, and commercial transportation systems. By improving convenience and efficiency in getting around the country, the airplane opened the skies to mail transportation and for communication for the military. War was the greatest factor in the airplanes technological history. World War I and World War II called for greater killing machines, both on the ground and in the sky. Once these conflicts were over, humans saw better use for the airplane economically with mail transportation and human transportation.
References
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[2] Anon. “First airplane flies.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
[3] Anon. “History of Aviation – First Flights.” Avjobs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
[4] Anon. “Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company/Aviation History Wing/A History of the Airplane.” History of the Airplane. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.