THE GOLDEN AGE OF AVIATIONTHE GOLDEN AGE OF AVIATION

• Flying the Atlantic

• Advances in Aviation

• Commercial Aviation

• General Aviation

• Aeronautics – Research Centers and Progress

• Flying the Atlantic

• Advances in Aviation

• Commercial Aviation

• General Aviation

• Aeronautics – Research Centers and Progress

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• First Transatlantic Crossing– First natural barrier challenged was the Atlantic Ocean

• May 1919, US Navy made the first attempt at a transatlantic crossing, flying 3 new Curtiss flying boats

• New York, Newfoundland, Azores, Portugal• 1,200 miles of open water, navy ship every 50 miles• Radio, rockets, searchlights to guide the way• 26 hours, 45 minutes; 15 hours, 18 minutes

• Nonstop Transatlantic Crossing– London Daily Mail (newspaper) offered $50,000, 72 hours– June 1919, Newfoundland to Ireland, 16 hours, 12

minutes

• First Transatlantic Crossing– First natural barrier challenged was the Atlantic Ocean

• May 1919, US Navy made the first attempt at a transatlantic crossing, flying 3 new Curtiss flying boats

• New York, Newfoundland, Azores, Portugal• 1,200 miles of open water, navy ship every 50 miles• Radio, rockets, searchlights to guide the way• 26 hours, 45 minutes; 15 hours, 18 minutes

• Nonstop Transatlantic Crossing– London Daily Mail (newspaper) offered $50,000, 72 hours– June 1919, Newfoundland to Ireland, 16 hours, 12

minutes

FLYING THE ATLANTICFLYING THE ATLANTIC

– Barnstormers• Air Shows, flying exhibitions, rides, etc.• War-surplus aircraft and pilots• County fairs, carnivals, etc.

– Charles Lindbergh (text 2-43 to 2-46)• Barnstormer, wing walker, one 30 minute lesson before solo,

1922• Air mail pilot, 1925• $25,000 prize, New York to Paris nonstop• San Diego to St Louis, 21 hours, 20 minutes• In May 1927, 3,600 miles, 33 hours, 30 minutes

– Amelia Earhart (text 2-54 to 2-60)

• Nurse, student, first flight in 1921• Rode across the Atlantic, June 1928• First transcontinental flight in autogiro• Tried to fly around the world at equator, 1937

(1964)• Fate unknown

– Barnstormers• Air Shows, flying exhibitions, rides, etc.• War-surplus aircraft and pilots• County fairs, carnivals, etc.

– Charles Lindbergh (text 2-43 to 2-46)• Barnstormer, wing walker, one 30 minute lesson before solo,

1922• Air mail pilot, 1925• $25,000 prize, New York to Paris nonstop• San Diego to St Louis, 21 hours, 20 minutes• In May 1927, 3,600 miles, 33 hours, 30 minutes

– Amelia Earhart (text 2-54 to 2-60)

• Nurse, student, first flight in 1921• Rode across the Atlantic, June 1928• First transcontinental flight in autogiro• Tried to fly around the world at equator, 1937

(1964)• Fate unknown

ADVANCES IN AVIATIONADVANCES IN AVIATION

– Air Mail• May 1918, army pilots, New York to Chicago• 1920, extended to San Francisco• Originally could not compete with trains• Night flights (1924) w/ bonfires, beacons, emergency fields,

landing/navigation lights on planes• Military to Civilian, 1925

– Legislation• Air Mail Act, 1925

– Post Office to contract with commercial carriers• Air Commerce Act, 1926

– Safety regulations, licenses, air traffic rules, navigational facilities, map airways, investigate accidents

• Air Mail Act, 1934 and 1938

– Air Mail• May 1918, army pilots, New York to Chicago• 1920, extended to San Francisco• Originally could not compete with trains• Night flights (1924) w/ bonfires, beacons, emergency fields,

landing/navigation lights on planes• Military to Civilian, 1925

– Legislation• Air Mail Act, 1925

– Post Office to contract with commercial carriers• Air Commerce Act, 1926

– Safety regulations, licenses, air traffic rules, navigational facilities, map airways, investigate accidents

• Air Mail Act, 1934 and 1938

Commercial Aviation after World War I

Commercial Aviation after World War I

– Passenger Service• By 1930, passenger flights across country, 48 hours, $352• Today, 5 hours or less and half the price• Bonus paid for multiengine aircraft w/ latest instruments

– Subsidy to carry passengers• By 1930, 150 companies with as many different planes

– Seaplanes• Pan American Clippers, island to island in Caribbean, then

Central America and down Atlantic coast of South America• China Clippers, Hawaii, Wake Island, Guam, Manila, Hong

Kong• Yankee Clippers, only 6, government service during WWII

– Passenger Service• By 1930, passenger flights across country, 48 hours, $352• Today, 5 hours or less and half the price• Bonus paid for multiengine aircraft w/ latest instruments

– Subsidy to carry passengers• By 1930, 150 companies with as many different planes

– Seaplanes• Pan American Clippers, island to island in Caribbean, then

Central America and down Atlantic coast of South America• China Clippers, Hawaii, Wake Island, Guam, Manila, Hong

Kong• Yankee Clippers, only 6, government service during WWII

Commercial Aviation after World War I

Commercial Aviation after World War I

– Rigid Airships• Germans flew dirigibles or “Zeppelins” between the wars• US Navy built Shenandoah, 1923, public relations• Goodyear built Akron, 1931; Macon, 1933• Today there are a number of nonrigid “blimps”, publicity and

sporting events

– Rigid Airships• Germans flew dirigibles or “Zeppelins” between the wars• US Navy built Shenandoah, 1923, public relations• Goodyear built Akron, 1931; Macon, 1933• Today there are a number of nonrigid “blimps”, publicity and

sporting events

Commercial Aviation after World War I

Commercial Aviation after World War I

– Air Races of this Era• Very popular and incentive for better/faster airplanes• National Air Races, 10 days, 1 M+, famous names

– The Ninety-Nines• Women’s professional/social organization of female

pilots, 1929; suggested aerial markings, 1936

– Air Racing Today• National Air Races; Reno, Nevada

– Air Races of this Era• Very popular and incentive for better/faster airplanes• National Air Races, 10 days, 1 M+, famous names

– The Ninety-Nines• Women’s professional/social organization of female

pilots, 1929; suggested aerial markings, 1936

– Air Racing Today• National Air Races; Reno, Nevada

GENERAL AVIATION: A BEGINNING

GENERAL AVIATION: A BEGINNING

– The Science of Aeronautics between wars• Monoplane, more efficient wing shapes and cowlings,

pressurized cabins, retractable landing gear, air-cooled radial engines, wing flaps to increase lift and allow slower takeoff and landing speeds

– Rotary – Wing Progress• Autogiro, 1923, Spanish• Helicopter, 1937, German• Igor Sikorsky, 1940• First military helicopter in WWII

– Rocket and Jet Research• Dr. Robert Goddard, liquid fueled rockets, 1926• Steering, pumping fuel, combustion chamber, nozzle• Herman Oberth, German rocket program WWII

– The Science of Aeronautics between wars• Monoplane, more efficient wing shapes and cowlings,

pressurized cabins, retractable landing gear, air-cooled radial engines, wing flaps to increase lift and allow slower takeoff and landing speeds

– Rotary – Wing Progress• Autogiro, 1923, Spanish• Helicopter, 1937, German• Igor Sikorsky, 1940• First military helicopter in WWII

– Rocket and Jet Research• Dr. Robert Goddard, liquid fueled rockets, 1926• Steering, pumping fuel, combustion chamber, nozzle• Herman Oberth, German rocket program WWII

AERONAUTICS – RESEARCH CENTERS and PROGRESS

AERONAUTICS – RESEARCH CENTERS and PROGRESS

• Flying the Atlantic • Aviation Accomplishments• General Aviation–A Beginning• Aeronautics–Research Centers

and Progress

• Flying the Atlantic • Aviation Accomplishments• General Aviation–A Beginning• Aeronautics–Research Centers

and Progress

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION