AVIATION HISTORY

Aviation History

Topic 1

Evaluate the contributions to aviation made by the early pioneers in the development of balloons, dirigibles, gliders and powered flight.

The history of aviation continues over the past two centuries. Man has made significant success in the aviation industry. The concepts of aviation began with the flight of kites, which then continued with the hot air balloons and primitive gliders (Nosotro R., 2010).

The brothers Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier considered as pioneers of the aviation industry as the borthers discovered the principle that hot air rises in cooler air. They developed the first hot air balloon, depending upon their principle. They demonstrated the first hot air balloon on June 4, 1783. This flight succeeded in travelling a distance of over a mile traveled over a mile. The balloon achieved an altitude of 6,000 feet. In the succeeding years, the brothers sent people in the sky. The hot balloons gained wide popularity during the era of American Civil War, when the Army used these balloons.

In 1804, George Cayley developed the first workable glider. Cayley's gliders succeeded in taking some persons to the air by the years 1849 and 1853. George also wrote a book, explaining the improved lift one the wing that could result from a curved upper wing's camber. The book also discussed the flight dynamics as lift, weight, thrust and drag. George contributed the aviation industry, not only by developing his own gliders, but also by resenting organized information for the future aviators.

Henri Giffard built first dirigible in the year 1852. This dirigble drove using steam engine, built by the engineer of France in 1852. Various pioneers of the aviation industry made modifications to the design of Dirigible, for example, Paul Haenlein, who built the aircraft in 1872in Germany; and, the French army officers Charles Renard and A. C. Krebs, who flown the air craft in 1884.

In 1903, Wilbur and Orville discovered the mechanism of powering the flights. They presented the powered version of glider in 1902. This powered glider was able to carry Orville up to 120 feet on a flight that lasted for 12 seconds. Also, the same aircraft carried the other pilot Wilbur up to 852 feet for the duration of 59 seconds. Hence, these pilots contributed to the aviation industry by developing the very first powered and controlled aircraft.

Topic 2

Discuss the significance of World War I in the development of all phases of aviation, including aircraft and engine design.

The concepts of air craft and flights gained wide acceptance during the years of World War I. During World War I, Military use of aircraft raised tremendously. The productions demands of the aircraft increased significantly to meet the needs of governments and military from both sides of the Atlantic (AvJobs, 2010). During the same era, aircraft began to use as bombers, the warriors found the fact that the aircraft was the best available resource for targeting the ground objects. The aircraft and engine design began to transform into the fighter ...