DELGADO, BRENDAN LEWIS A 23 OCT 2020

AAMT 1-7 AMT 1102-THEORY OF FLIGHTS

How did flight start?

In 1000 BC, the myth of Daedalus and his son Icarus was written which states that the
King of Crete threw Daedalus in the labyrinth after it was built. The father and son created wings
out of wax to escape and fly away. Icarus fell into his death after he flew too high and his wax
started melting due to the heat.
In 400 BC, the Chinese created kites as the ancestors of modern aviation. They claim that
the curved surfaces are better than flat surfaces.
The year 1040 AD, Oliver of Malmesbury tried to fly by putting on a pair of wings and
jumping off an abbey which led to breaking his legs but he managed to survive. Others tried to do
Oliver’s method and some died and survived.
The Ancient Greek Engineer, Heron Alexandrinus, created the Aeolipile or the Hero’s
Engine which uses air pressure and steam to create a source of power. This rotates because of jets
of steam.
Leonardo da Vinci created so many sketches of designs for flying machines. He made so
many discoveries about the center of gravity and pressure, and streamlining.
Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier created the first successful aircraft. The craft’s balloon is
made out of cloth and paper, and uses gas to lift the aircraft. The first aviators were duck, rooster,
and a sheep.
This started in the early 1800s with George Cayley created cambered airfoils and hand
gliders. He also established the principles of flight. In his glider, he designed the stacked wings
which made it successful in making a man fly in 1853. He also designed rudders in the gliders for
directional control.
In the late 1800s, Otto Lilienthal manufactured is own gliders based on Cayley’s
discoveries. He used cloth and willow on his aircraft on his study on the bird’s wings. He made
vertical and horizontal fins on the wing of his glider and a pilot station. He also proved that a man
can fly.
In 1890s, a retired railroad and bridge engineer named Octave Chanute, published his
work entitled “Progress in Flying Machines”. The climax of his efforts in collecting useful
information aviation. He created his own gliders same to Lilienthal’s with the help of other
people. In addition to his publication was building a glider with stacked wings with wires as
support to the wings.
In 1903, the Wright brothers created a successful powered airplane called the “Wright
flyer”. It had its wing covered in cloth attached to wooden truss structures, forward and rear
spars with wires and struts as supports, and two sets of stacked wings.
In 1909, Louise Bleriot created an aircraft with a small similarity with the Wrights’
design. He successfully created a mono-wing aircraft. His wings are still supported by wires. The
extension above the fuselage which makes the support for the wings above and beneath it. He
made possible for an extended wing to lift itself with single set of wings. Pratt truss-type is used
for Bleriot’s aircraft.
In 1910, a German engineer, Hugo Junkers successfully created an aircraft with metal
truss construction with metal skin to withstand the stronger powerplants to take off into the sky.
The use of metal in creating the aircraft made an exception in the need of wing braces and wires.
The wings on the aircraft is a single set.
During WWI, engineers ask their designers to make their aircraft with thicker wings and
stronger spars. The use of wire wing bracing is not applicable. The wings have flatter surfaces
and high camber, to create more lift. It is used mostly for reconnaissance; its tail is stacked- wing
draggers with truss frames made out of metal and with fabric skin dominated the wartime sky.
In the 1920s, the metal usage in aircraft increased. They developed a fuselage to carry
cargos and passengers. The first flying boats with their hull-type construction from the ship
building industry provided blueprints for construction for fuselages. Its tendency prevails into
mono-wing designs.
In 1930s, the metal aircraft has new lighter and powerful engines. Larger fuselages were
complimented with stress-skin wing designs. About 10,000 designs were brought by WWII made
by metal technology. Its wings have fuel for higher flight speeds. De Havilland Mosquito is the
first composite structure aircraft which uses balsa wood sandwich material in construction of
fuselage. Fiberglass radome was also developed.
After WWII, the evolution of turbo engines led to higher altitude flight. The result of
Semi monocoque construction is stronger. All the refinements were made to increase the strength
and combat metal fatigue. Rounded windows and door were made to prevent cracks in areas
where they form. The copper alloy aluminum skin doesn’t get any cracks. This increase the speed
in flight. Multispar and box beam wing were developed.
In 1960s, larger aircrafts were built for passengers. As engine technology improved, jet
engine was engineered and built. Honeycombs were used for constructing panels in Boeing’s
airline series as a lighter and stronger material. Aluminum core with aluminum/fiberglass skin
sandwich panels were used on wing panels, flight control surfaces and floorboards.
From 1970 to present, the use of honeycombs and foam are increased as components for
composite materials. This results in gradual shift in from aluminum to carbon fiber caused by
advanced techniques and material combinations. The new materials were made for performance
requirements for components. Many aircrafts are over 50% of the structure are advanced
composite materials. One example of this is Very Light Jet as the new generation of jet aircraft.
The nonaluminum materials will become obsolete.
From the myths and legends of flight and creation of a kite that flies in the air by China
that humans started thinking about flying. It has developed through the years with innovation and
technology to transport people, luggage, cargo, military personnel and weapons.

MODULE 1 Enrichment Activity

How does the early flights help the modern aircraft today?
 Throughout the years, the aircraft is enhanced and modified it’s designs and functions
based on the current needs and latest technology. The construction of latest models was improved
based on the previous models' problems or issues.
Whatever happened in the past designs and functions of an aircraft have taught today on
what is required and needed in the new design and models like using improved materials, it can
fly longer distance, less weight, bigger capacity and so on. Aircraft today have a higher
performance and fuel efficiency as well.
With the problems and issues that the previous models and types of aircraft encountered,
with innovation and technology, aviation industry today is able to develop safety features and
guidelines. It also paved way for legislations to create laws, designate routes, air navigation
systems, license pilots and aircrafts.

Honesty Clause:
My signature below constitutes my pledge that all of the writing is my own work, with the
exception of those portions which are properly documented.

BRENDAN LEWIS A. DELGADO LIGAYA A. DELGADO

Student’s Name & Signature Parent/Guardian’s Name & Signature