The Evolution of AirplanesBy: Sam Mataraso

The First Airplane

• First successful flight was December 27, 1903.

• Invented by Orville and Wilbur Wright.

The first flightPrepping the plane

The First Airplane – Cont.

• 9’4’’ tall.• 21’1’’length.• Wingspan 40’4’’.• First flight 10’ high, 120’ long, and

lasted 12 seconds.

The first flight at Kitty Hawk

How was it made?

• The materials in the first plane were:• Wood• Fabric• Metal• Gasoline

• Materials common in bikes.

Design

Commercial Flight

• Began in the late 1914.• St. Petersburg – Tampa Airline.• Flight time of 23 minutes.• 1926-Stewards hired to comfort

passengers.

Commercial Flight

• Led to commercial flight:• Larger Planes• More comfortable planes

• Commercial flight advanced due to jet.

Improvements to Engine

• Jet Engine-1937 by Frank Whittle + Hans von Ohain.

• August 27, 1939 – First jet plane.• Jet Planes were used in WW2.

Jet Engine

Jets in Commercial Flight

• July 27, 1949 – First Flight• May 2, 1952 – First Service• Named Comet 1• Max Speed: 450 MPH

Significance/Users

• Improvements were for speed/efficiency.

• Greatly increased ease of travel.• Make traveling long distances

plausible.• Used by anyone who can afford a

ticket.

Bibliography

• Bellis, M. (n.d.). History of the Airplane - Orville and Wilbur Wright. Inventors. Retrieved September 6, 2011, from http://www.inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventions/a/Airplane.htm

• Crouch., T. D. (n.d.). Wright brothers history: First Airplane Flight, 1903. Wright House: Frank Lloyd, Orville and Wilbur, Steven.... Retrieved September 6, 2011, from http://www.wright-house.com/wright-brothers/wrights/1903.html

• Greatachivements.org - Greatachivements and Engineering. (n.d.). Greatachivements.org - Greatachivements and Engineering. Retrieved September 7, 2011, from http://www.greatachivements.org/?id=3728

• Parts of an Aircraft - Wright 1903 Flyer. (n.d.). Re-Living the Wright Way -- NASA. Retrieved September 7, 2011, from http://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/flyer.html