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Aircraft Time-Line
Chronological
1903: First Powered Aircraft Flyer I :-
Wilbur and Orville Wright, two bicycle engineers, were the first people to successfully fly a heavier-than-air aircraft.
The flyer I was built (after the brothers had studied small models) of wood with cloth covered wings. Spars (which are still used in modern aeroplanes) ran down the length of the wing supported the weight. Ribs from front to back gave the wing a curved shape.
The engine was designed by the Wright brothers. The engine was lighter than a car engine because the engine was too heavy for the aircraft and a motorbike engine was not powerful enough. The engine had four cyclinders, weigh 90 kilograms and created 12 horsepower. The plane's top speed was 48 kpm.
1914: Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was used by the Allied Forces during the first world war. It was once of the best fighter planes at the time. More than 5,000 were built and they shot down nearly 2,800 enemy planes.
The armenament consited of twin machine guns (on the nose of the plane) , a 37-mm Hotchkiss cannon and four 11-kilo bombs. The engine was a 130hp Clerget or a 150 hp Bentley. The engine was so powerful for a small plane that a careless tug on the joystick could send the plane into a spin and send the pilot out of the plane.
Sopwith Camels were also used for reconnaissance purposes.
1920: Handley Page
1936: Hindenburg
1936: Canopus Flying Boat
1936: Douglas DC-3
World War II
1938: Lockheed Constellation
1952: Havilland Comet
1950s: B-52 Stratofortress
1950s: Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook
1960s: Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird"
1967: McDonnell Douglas Harrier
1960 - 1970: Anglo-French Development CONCORDE
1981: Lockheed F-117A "Nighthawk"
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