Wings Assignment 5

Summarize the new aviation technologies that emerged as a result of WWII.

After the invention of the airplane at the beginning of the twentieth century, flight became a major aspect of battle. World War I helped to create the conventional airplane as a permanent integration into society. This development continued on, and with the onset of World War II, the advancement of aviation technology was continued, and with it brought about many new achievements.

During both World War I and World War II, a race existed between every participating country to have the most advanced flight technologies. One way to beat enemy competition through flight included having the fastest machine in battle. As the original piston engines continued to become more efficient until reaching their peak of power, new methods of powering aircraft became sought after. This need served as the fuel that led to the implementation of the turbojet engine and rockets into aircrafts. Other technologies that focused not directly on the abilities of the airplane, but tactics that led to strategic advancements in other areas. Some examples included technologies like radar systems and aerial maps. “World War II produced a series of stunning new technologies, nuclear weapons, jet aircraft, guided missiles, long-range rockets, and an array of electronic systems” (page 476).  Without the dramatic and immediate need for the upper hand during World War II, many of these technologies may have not been developed until much later.

Not only did World War II have a tremendous impact on flight technologies during the war, but it also affected flight technologies after. Very much time, energy, money, and thoughts had been dedicated to the advancement of flight during World War II. However, after World War II, there then existed an availability of resources to still focus on flight development, but not directly on flight development in the war. These resources became significant because organizations could now focus on long term flight technologies for society, instead of short term flight technologies for the war. This all had been made possible due to larger amount of funding now ready to be used for research due to the termination of World War II.

World War II, just like World War I shaped the history of aviation and its advancement in technology. Not only did World War II impact flight immediately, but for years after the war its affects continued to lead to an advancement in flight technologies.

 

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

Today, airplane travel at high speed is something not so odd in the modern world. However, around the 1920s, airplanes would grow from a slow speed just barely over 100 miles per hour to airplanes that could handle faster speeds, leading to what would eventually become supersonic speed planes.

It was not very long after the invention of the air plane that the speed capabilities of these machines began to quickly grow. “The engineers who uncovered the secrets of Nazi technology might have been surprised to learn that the new age of high-speed aeronautics actually began in America in the fall of 1918” (Page 445). The increasing speed possibilities of airplanes actually created a problem that would require attention. This problem arose from planes traveling at the speed of sound or higher, which led to many problems including high friction, turbulent air flow around the wings, shockwaves, and dangerous material temperatures.

        These issues would be dealt with by the use of more advanced materials and airplane design. However, in order for planes to continue overall speed advancement, a bigger renovation loomed on the horizon. It was obvious to some that a new type of engine would be required that differed from the piston engine. “It became apparent to a handful of perceptive outsiders, however, that the normal patterns of achieving increases in performance by pushing the limits of the existing technology would no longer suffice” (page 447). This significant change in engine technology was not embraced by the majority of the United States. Industries had built their factories around the development of the piston engine, and would have to completely remodel production if a new type of engine were to be introduced. 

A few persistent individuals would veer off onto the path of new technology to pursue the production of new flight power, like the rocket and turbojet engine. Many organizations would continue to discourage the development of new engines, all the while other countries, like Britain, had been working on their own jet engine. The British's lead in jet-engine technology and knowledge served to help the few in the United States who favored the development of the jet engine. Around the 1950s, the United States would eventually expand turbojet research and develop airplanes that could travel faster than ever before.

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

The development and successful invention of the helicopter led to new possibilities in the field of aviation technology. The conventional airplane that had previously been created offered great capabilities and served as a significant achievement in flight, having features never before available relating to human flight. The helicopter itself also offered very useful and different features that could not be provided by the conventional airplane.

One of the most important features the helicopter could offer that the conventional airplane could not was vertical flight. Meaning the helicopter required neither a runway for take-off nor landing. “Clearly, however, a machine that could rise straight up into the air and hover over one spot served some functions” (page 470). Unlike the conventional airplane which only could provide continuous movement through the air, the helicopter could both move and stay in place, which opened a new range of available possibilities in aviation.

The helicopter and its new wide range of aviation abilities were put into action for practical uses. Eventually the helicopter became a major implementation in war for several purposes. Injured individuals could be rescued via helicopter and easily transported from anywhere. It also meant that troops could be dropped off virtually on top of the enemy. “Mobility became the key to success, and the helicopter the key to mobility” (page 473). The helicopter could basically take and pick up soldiers from everywhere, which led to the heavy use of the helicopter in battles.

 After the use of helicopters in several wars, this unique machine became a permanent method of flight. The industry even profited not long after the invention of the helicopter due to research and production businesses associated with it. The helicopter has become a very important aircraft in the world and still has a major role in many aspects of society.