Essay Example on Aircraft Performance Post War Aviation Industry

Summary Any advancement in aviation was crawling before the United States thought of engaging in World War II The Wright brothers first attempted powered flight in 1903 which didn’t spark a large interest in the public for commercial aviation Commercial aviation really started to come around during the engagement of WWI because the government and military saw a use for airplanes in order to complete the complicated and demanding mission in support of the war efforts As WWI came to a close the commercial aviation industry nearly bankrupt itself due to a surplus of airplanes produced during the war With America s involvement in WWII the commercial aviation industry would change when the need for bigger and better technology was exhibited II Problem Early on in the century the American aviation industry did not have the advancements in technology that other countries in Asia and Europe had Allied forces flew biplanes with piston engines which gave them no air superiority due to the Germans having advanced fighter planes and bombers III Significance of the Problem As WWII slowly started to become a reality President Roosevelt orders the production of aircraft that would be used by the military in support of both US and Allied troops across the Atlantic By 1940 the production of aircraft was less than 6 000 compared to the 95 000 that were being produced by 1944 

The advancements in technology for the aircraft first being produced had not changed much compared to the ones flown in WWI It was the Germans and their advancements in aviation technology and the need for air superiority that pushed aviation industry companies such Northrop and Lockheed to design and develop prototype aircraft that could pose a threat In 1942 General Electric would change the way that aviation operates in all wars by introducing the jet engine The bombers and fighter planes were doing a good job but the need for air troop transport and resupply sparked the development of complex aircraft These complex developments began a new era in commercial aviation travel as we know it today Jet engines started to take over the commercial airline industry after WWII Warplanes demonstrated the reliability and speed of the jet engine so airlines began implementing engines into their airplanes incorporating designs that were faster more efficient with reduced drag This opened the floodgates for commercial airline travel By the end of the war funding was secured to continue testing and enhancements of the jet engine 

The testing was improving the engines by reducing the vibration extending the airplanes lifespan due to the reduced stress on the airframe Because of the continued advancements in the jet engines companies such as Pan Am were producing planes that were bigger faster and more efficient such as the Boeing 747 The Soviet Union first introduced the development of the supersonic aircraft in the 1960 s that was followed by other countries in Europe as the need for a faster and farther travel continued to increase IV Development of Alternative Actions Alternative Action 1 The improvement and enhancement of the aviation industry are certainly based on private corporations and their interest in developing planes and engines that can attract the consumer to their product Advantages Certainly the introduction of the jet airplane early in the 20th century lured individuals from traveling in piston engine biplanes The desire to be on the cutting edge of technology is what continues to drive the aviation industry to develop engines and airplanes that can go faster transport more weight and all while being cost efficient to the developer and the consumer Disadvantages The desire to produce quantity can surpass the need for quality leading to safety issues and concerns that can possibly cause accidents and or injury death Alternative Action 2 Wars and conflicts are inevitable in today's world Government and militaries need to look ahead into future technologies that give America the aviation advantage during the war Advantages Multiple wars in the early 21st century led to an increased need for the procreation of aviation assets for the military that can provide support out last and out maneuver anything that had been in the previous production such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UAV and the AH 64 

Apache Disadvantages Post war the military is downsizing due to the exhaustion of funds for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq The costliness of technology development for better equipped aircraft can be a reason to put the brakes on said research V Recommendations Lessons that have been learned in regards to America s aviation industry is that the market is always expanding and other countries will always try to remain one step ahead of developments and technologies Attention importance and funding are essential to both the commercial and military sides of aviation in order to remain in the forefront of the industry With aviation much more can be expected that will further revolutionize air and space travel as well as creating a military that has vast air superiority References Bright C 1978 The Jet Makers The Aerospace Industry from 1945 to 1972 Retrieved May 5 2015 from http www generalatomic com jetmakers chapter1 html Shankman S 2014 October 14 3 Biggest Challenges Facing the Global Aviation Industry Retrieved May 6 2015 from http skift com 2014 10 14 3 biggest challenges facing the global aviation industry Piston Engine Aircraft vs Turboprop Engine Aircraft 2011 December 12 Retrieved May 5 2015 from http www shorelineaviation net news events bid 50442 Piston Engine Aircraft vs Turboprop Engine Aircraft History of Aviation First Flights n d Retrieved May 5 2015 from http www avjobs com history