WINGS assignment 5

WINGS Assignment 5

Chapter 12-14

 

2. Discuss the beginning of supersonic flight research in the United States and whether or not this technology was a priority.

The beginning of supersonic flight research in the United States began in the fall of 1918 when researchers interested in high-speed flight were working with high speed propellers going almost 6 times the speed of the plane, high-speed wind tunnels, and aerodynamics in design. Jacob Ackeret is credited with the completion of the Mach 2 which represented the ratio of the speed of sound to the speed of an object in comparison. However, any realized it was time to start back at the drawing boards when various attempts did not work to replace usual piston engines with something that could power such speeds; this lead to the supercharger.  

From here came the development of the jet engine. At this time the British still dominated the field of turbojet technology. This would soon change; “By the early 1950w, the enormous U.S. investment in research and development enabled American companies to pull ahead of the Brits.” (p 453) However, the turbojet engine only effectively powered high altitude, high speed flights. Research continued into developing efficient high speed flight, faster than could have been imagined at the time. Eastman Jacobs and Arthur Kantrowitz aimed to design the first true supersonic wind tunnel. This quickly fell through due to NACA restrictions.

The aim was to learn about “aerodynamic conditions close to the speed of sound” (p 455). While wind tunnels had been developed producing these high speeds, even higher than the speed of sound, John Stack believed that to truly gather information they must develop a plane to fly faster than sound. The concern was the uncertainty surrounding this proposition as to what would happen due to such a lack of knowledge. This factor decreased the priority of the project for such a period of time. Finally in 1947, Captain Charles Yeager was the first to fly faster than the speed of sound in the XS-I.  

 

3. What role did the helicopter play in the development of aviation technology?

            The helicopter solved the drawn out problem of vertical flight. There are a variety of research and people that went into the success, and much like the first flying machine, many had been working on it for a period of time before success was reached. Advances in vertical flight started out as the autogiro developed by Juan de la Cierva in 1923. This machine featured “a free-wheeling rotor at a positive angle on top of a machine fitted with a conventional engine and propeller mounted on the nose. The forward motion of the craft would turn the rotor, lifting the machine into the air.” This was not considered the world’s first helicopter due to its need for a short take off run.

            Autogiros were actually a relatively popular piece of machinery. Harold Pitcairn bought the rights here to American manufacturing where he was convinced these could replace the car in every garage as the average American’s means of transportation. While we see today he was wrong, Pitcairn helped to develop a safer landing mechanism and even autogiros capable of use on roads as well. Unfortunately the development of the true helicopter before the onset of World War II had a negative impact when he went to market his machines to the military.

            In America, Igor Sikorsky is greatly credited with the development of the practical helicopter. Vertical flight had come this far but more was needing accomplished before helicopters would see a true role. When technical issues were finally sorted out, enthusiasm for the helicopter flourished across the states. The popularity was combated with the fact that they were not easily flown and not practical to have in the hands of average American’s.

            The helicopter played a role of further advances in aviation; it displayed a new way of flight that had not yet been conquered including hovering.  The helicopter became an important tool of war to carry supplies as well as men into battle. With such effective vertical mobility it made it possible to land without a strip and take off quickly from the same position.

10. Support of refute the statement that aviation was the most important military technology since the invention of gunpowder.

I would support the statement that aviation was the most important military technology since the invention of gunpowder. While maybe it is not as large of a revolution that the development of gunpowder brought to military efforts overall, aviation changed the face of war and conflict. It is amazing that within a few years conflict went from the ground to the skies. People were able to fly across the ocean in hours rather than days, and all continents were suddenly connected by this ability to fly. Planes went from a flimsy wooden and fabric biplane to a tough metal monoplane capable of flying high altitudes and high speeds while carrying people and supplies. We saw from here the development of supersonic speeds, vertical flight, and rocket power. While this advance in technology was a great advance for the military, aviation also brought much destruction to the areas impacted. More destruction came to the innocent civilians than any conflict had ever seen with airplanes able to pinpoint bomb locations from across seas.  We saw lives lost that should not have been sacrificed, much like with what we see with gunpowder. With advances comes some tragedy as well when these powerful weapons and tools get into the hands of anger and vengeance.

We then see the airplane develop into a commercial tool and exploratory tool. The advances continue over such a short span of time that it would be arguable to say that aviation is even greater and advancement than gunpowder. The examples of aviation that we have today are unrecognizable compared to a century ago. We have whole museums dedicated to the development of military aviation alone. In the beginning, we heard warnings of the danger that aircraft could possess, but we also hear and see the great knowledge and technology that they have brought to the world.