The first powered airplane flew only 12 seconds and covered 120 feet in 1903 piloted by Orville Wright. (Eyewitness, 2003) The 20th century saw the greatest achievements for aviation as each decade progressed with innovation and advancement. In this day and age, the aviation industry provides an important contribution to economic and social benefits worldwide. However, aviation would certainly not be how it is today without the effect of warfare during the 20th century on the development of civilian and military aviation. Initially, military aviation development and technology was used during warfare to provide advances on their enemies but as time progress it transferred and assisted the technology development for civil aviation. This essay
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Knowing as the “Golden Age of Aviation” between the end of WW1 and the beginning of WW2, this was the period where both civil and military aviation had the greatest achievements in aviation history for development and pioneer. During this period for military aviation, the biplane open cockpit design of WW1 aircraft were slowly being replaced with the all metal monoplane. Aircraft progressively were being designed with retractable undercarriages for streamlining, avionics and more powerful radial engines or supercharged piston engines. These created aircraft that were able to fly much further, faster and higher than the WW1 aircraft with greater manoeuvrability. Fighter aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane that was used by Royal Air Force for the Battle of Britain, still today hold its legacy in the 21st century which shows the technological advancement for aircraft technology development was well ahead of its time. Development for the Spitfire and Hurricane came about because the Royal Air Force needed a fighter aircraft capable of competing again the German fighter aircraft Messerschmitt BF190 in the Battle of Britain. (Aviation History, 2006) It shows that warfare had created a rapid motivation for aircraft manufactures to develop aircraft that were better than its enemies for air …show more content…
During this period many of the first long distance flights that made aviation history were pioneered. Military aviation however, was still foremost with warfare an importance for aviation development. Military aviation development in aircraft would slowly phase into civil aviation, with the jet engine being developed during this era. It was not however till the end of WW2 where commercial aviation really began to operate from the ex military WW2 bomber aircraft such as the Lancaster. (Guilmartin, 2016) These WW2 bomber aircraft had the characteristics than enable them to be converted into civilian aircraft to transport cargo and people. This set the beginning for commercial aviation, with further development throughout the decade to help achieve civil aviation to its present
Knowing as the “Golden Age of Aviation” between the end of WW1 and the beginning of WW2, this was the period where both civil and military aviation had the greatest achievements in aviation history for development and pioneer. During this period for military aviation, the biplane open cockpit design of WW1 aircraft were slowly being replaced with the all metal monoplane. Aircraft progressively were being designed with retractable undercarriages for streamlining, avionics and more powerful radial engines or supercharged piston engines. These created aircraft that were able to fly much further, faster and higher than the WW1 aircraft with greater manoeuvrability. Fighter aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane that was used by Royal Air Force for the Battle of Britain, still today hold its legacy in the 21st century which shows the technological advancement for aircraft technology development was well ahead of its time. Development for the Spitfire and Hurricane came about because the Royal Air Force needed a fighter aircraft capable of competing again the German fighter aircraft Messerschmitt BF190 in the Battle of Britain. (Aviation History, 2006) It shows that warfare had created a rapid motivation for aircraft manufactures to develop aircraft that were better than its enemies for air …show more content…
During this period many of the first long distance flights that made aviation history were pioneered. Military aviation however, was still foremost with warfare an importance for aviation development. Military aviation development in aircraft would slowly phase into civil aviation, with the jet engine being developed during this era. It was not however till the end of WW2 where commercial aviation really began to operate from the ex military WW2 bomber aircraft such as the Lancaster. (Guilmartin, 2016) These WW2 bomber aircraft had the characteristics than enable them to be converted into civilian aircraft to transport cargo and people. This set the beginning for commercial aviation, with further development throughout the decade to help achieve civil aviation to its present