Development of Civilian Aircraft from the Wright Flyer (1903) until the Present

Airframes/ design Aircraft capacity and Engines/ power and Avionics Social and Economic
range efficiency Impact
Biplane 1 person to fly the 12 HP petrol engine Anemometer for speed Flight school opened up
The Wright Truss design aircraft 4 inline cylinders Stopwatch to teach pilots
Flyer Structure and wing 59 seconds aluminium alloy and Revolution counter There were contracts
ribs made from wood 260 metres copper engine block with Magnetic compass from the military to
Large camber (1:20) iron pistons build aircraft
Covered in muslin no throttle ran at half
cloth speed
Hinged twin canard in
front for pitch
Twin rudder for yaw
Roll through wing
warping. Steered
through moving in a
cradle attached to the
pilot’s hips
Post WW1 Semi monocoque Piston engines (petrol -compass Factory built aircraft
1918 Monocoque and diesel) -oil pressure gauge Mass production of
Aluminium alloy Rotary, radial, inline -altimeter aircraft
-tachometer
-biplane -airspeed indicator
-wood and fabric

Post WW2 Semi Monocoque V12 (engine sizes) Radio navigation aids Aircraft used to
1945 Aluminium alloy Turbo and (ADF, VOR, Radar, ILS) transport people and
superchargers goods (mail)
-monoplanes Gas turbine engines
-streamlined metal (turbojet, turboprop,)

Modern Composite materials No- stop Sydney to Turbofans Electronic displays Economic
Electronic controls New York Electric Glass cockpit and Boosts economy in poor
HUD countries
-monoplane Income from tourism
Convenience
Global trade
Social
Humanitarian aid
Highly qualified workers
Family connection