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First Powered Flight
On December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina the Wright Brothers completed the first successful powered flight. The original aircraft had a wooden frame that was lined with a double layer of fabric along the wings. The plane also had fine wire struts that supported the wings. This was the first successful airplane and it revolutionized the aerospace industry. https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/fly/1903/index.cfm -
Boeing 247
The Boeing 247 was developed in 1933 and its first flight was on February 8, 1933. This was the first modern passenger airplane. The Boeing 247 was the first airplane to have retractable landing gear, autopilot, a gyro panel, and variable-pitch propellers. The aircraft had a full metal fuselage and two propellers. This plane opened the doors to what we now experience when traveling by plane. http://www.boeing.com/history/products/model-247-c-73.page -
Bell X-1
The Bell X-1 was the first ever airplane to travel faster than the speed of sound at speeds over 700 miles per hour. The plane's fuselage was made out of aluminum. the X-1 was powered by a XLR-11 liquid-fueled rocket engine which allowed it to reach supersonic speeds. The record flight of this plane gave important information to future supersonic plane designers as well as rocket engineers across the world. http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=154 -
B-2 Spirit
The B-2's most revolutionary innovation is that it is a stealth aircraft. This means that it goes undetected by enemy radar allowing it to penetrate deep into enemy territory. The B-2 is made out of a composite material, has a special coating, and has a flying-wing design. Although the airplane has some amazing technologies, they come at a price. The B-2 costs around $1.157 billion dollars. http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104482/b-2-spirit.aspx -
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger airplane in the world. It has a double-deck interior that goes the entire length of the fuselage. The A380 can hold over 500 passengers on a single flight. The A380 has the range of 8,500 nautical miles non-stop. The A380 is the best plane as of now and will lead the way to future planes that are even better. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380
