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Wright Brothers http://www.wright-brothers.org/History_Wing/Wright_Story/Inventing_the_Airplane/Inventing_the_Airplane_Intro.htm
As the Wright brothers were ready to test out their new product they decided to test it in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That morning they began testing the plane, but around noon Wilbur Wright flew 852 feet in 59 seconds. This was the longest and most successful flight test of its time. The plane had a wooden frame, was covered in finely-woven cotton cloth, and was sealed with "canvas paint". The engine was made of aluminum, copper, steel, and cast iron. -
Wright 1905 Flyer http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/airplanes-that-transformed-aviation-46502830/?no-ist
The difference between the 1903 Flyer and the 1905 Flyer is the 1905 Flyer was the world's first practical airplane. It was also, the first airplane to have independent three-axis control. Even though it still used a catapult for launch, it had upright seating for the pilot and a passenger, twice the power of its predecessors, 50% greater speed, and much greater endurance. -
The First Modern Commercial Airliner http://acepilots.com/pioneer/boeing_247.html
The Boeing Model 247 was an all metal, twin-engine, low-wing monoplane. The wings were made of wood and cloth and there were wires all over. The plane was powered by two 550-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engines, and had retractable landing gear. It could fly over 180 MPH and was the first airliner to use wing flaps. The plane was used for transportation because it could hold 10 passangers, 2 pilots, plus mail and baggage. -
First Practical Radar http://www.ob-ultrasound.net/radar.html
In 1935, the first practical radar system was produced by British physicist Sir Robert Wattson-Watt. The basis of his idea was the bouncing of a radio wave against an object and measuring its travel to provide targeting information. As a result of this, we are able to detect other aircraft around the designated airplane. Without this, it could cause many aircraft accidents and put people's lives in danger. -
Jet Engine http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljetengine.htm
The co-inventors of the Jet Engine are Dr. Hans von Ohain and Frank Whittle. Frank's engine, which had a single-staged centrifugal compressor coupled to a single-staged turbine, was successfully tested in April 1937. Ohain's engine didn't require a propeller and had a successful bench test in September 1937. His engine was then put in the Heinkel He178 and that became the first jet-powered flight. Jet engines move the airplane forward with a great force which makes the plane go faster. -
First aircraft produced through computer-aided design and engineering http://www.boeing.com/history/products/777.page
The Boeing airplane, twin-engine 777, was the first jetliner to be 100% digitally designed using three-demensional computer graphics. The 777 had improvements in airfoil technology, flight deck design, and passenger comfort and interior flexibility. United flew its first 777 in revenue service in June of 1995. The twin-engine 777 is more efficient because of its computer-aided design and engineering. Everday people use this type of airplane to travel and transport their things. -
Modern Day Airplane http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/vehicles/airplanes.html
Today's airplanes are used for transportation, recreation, research, and military. For the average person, airplanes are frequently used to travel. The engines provide thrust that's used to move the plane forward, overcoming drag and allowing wings to create lift. On the airplane wings there's a shape called an airfoil which creates lift while the plane moves through the air. Most airplanes today are mainly composed of aluminum, steel, and graphite-epoxy because it's lightweight and sturdy.
