Brief History of Aviation

Aviation is an extremely important part of modern day society. Aviation provides travel benefits, as well as thousands of new jobs for the public. The modern age of aviation is said to have started with the first untethered aircraft on November 21^st, 1783. The hot air balloon designed by the Montgolfier brothers was an extremely important contribution to modern day aviation. As technology improved aircraft began to transport people and cargo as designs expanded and became more reliable. During this time the best known aircraft such as blimps and rigid lighter-than-air ships were manufactured by the German.

In the field of aviation it is said that the greatest progress was probably made during the 1920s and early 1930s. This is mainly because of Charles Lindbergh, and Charles Kingsford Smith. In 1927 Charles Lindbergh managed a solo transatlantic flight. The following year Charles Kingsford Smith managed a transpacific flight. By the beginning of World War II towns, and cities had already built airports. There were already numerous qualified pilots available.

World War II contributed many innovations, and new technology including the first liquid-fueled rockets and the first jet aircraft.

After World War II there was a boom in aviation technology, mainly dealing with commercial and private uses. New manufacturers such as Cessna, Beechcraft, and Piper increased production to meet demands for the middle-class market. By the 1950s popularity in the aviation industry grew and there were increased demands for commercial flight. During this time civil jets grew such as the de Havilland Comet. However, the first passenger jet was the Boeing 707. It an important innovation in aviation history, providing its economical uses. Turboprop propulsion also began to appear more common for smaller aircraft enabling it to serve small routes in a wide range of weather conditions.

Aviation permits rapid transportation all over the world for cargo, and people. It also serves important benefits to the military with planes such as the Predator, and Blackbird.

The economy also benefits from aviation because of the high demands for travel. Without aviation it would take days or even months, to cross the Pacific and Atlantic ocean. Now that you understand the importance of the aviation industry, you can see how powered flight is important and beneficial to the public.

Century of Flight
Aviation History, The History of Flight
Century of Flight