Flying… mankind’s eternal dream
To dream is to pave the way for the possible or, on occasions, the seemingly impossible
Hi Mom, good morning.
Hello dear, did you sleep well?
Oh, Mom! I had this cool dream! It was way out!
That’s lovely dear, what would you like for breakfast?
Breakfast? Mom, I dreamt I could fly, it was incredible! I was flying, and all the city was there, below me. And, you know, I could feel the wind as I just soared high above the buildings. I wasn’t scared at all. Just the opposite.
That’s wonderful, dear. How about if I rustle up some ham and eggs with toast?
Hmm, it looks like I’m back to earth.
The history of aviation extends for more than two thousand years, from the earliest forms of aviation such as kites and attempts at tower jumping to supersonic and hypersonic flight by powered, heavier-than-air jets.
Kite flying in China dates back to several hundred years BC and slowly spread around the world. It is thought to be the earliest example of man-made flight.
Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century dream of flight found expression in several rational but unscientific designs, though he did not attempt to construct any of them.
The discovery of hydrogen gas in the 18th century led to the invention of the hydrogen balloon, at almost exactly the same time that the Montgolfier brothers rediscovered the hot-air balloon and began manned flights. Various theories in mechanics by physicists during the same period of time, notably fluid dynamics and Newton’s laws of motion, led to the foundation of modern aerodynamics, most notably by Sir George Cayley.
Balloons, both free-flying and tethered, began to be used for military purposes from the end of the 18th century, with the French government establishing Balloon Companies during the Revolution.
The term aviation, noun of action from stem of Latin avis “bird” with suffix -ation meaning action or progress, was coined in 1863 by French pioneer Guillaume Joseph Gabriel de La Landelle (1812–1886) in “Aviation ou Navigation aérienne sans ballons”.
Experiments with gliders provided the groundwork for heavier-than-air craft, and by the early-20th century, advances in engine technology and aerodynamics made controlled, powered flight possible for the first time. The modern aeroplane with its characteristic tail was established by 1909 and from then on the history of the aeroplane became tied to the development of more and more powerful engines.
The first great ships of the air were the rigid dirigible balloons pioneered by Ferdinand Von Zeppelin, which soon became synonymous with airships and dominated long-distance flight until the 1930s, when large flying boats became popular. After World War II, the flying boats were in their turn replaced by land planes, and the new and immensely powerful jet engine revolutionised both air travel and military aviation.
In the latter part of the 20th century the advent of digital electronics produced great advances in flight instrumentation and “fly-by-wire” systems. The 21st century saw the large-scale use of pilotless drones for military, civilian and leisure use. With digital controls, inherently unstable aircraft such as flying wings became possible.
Aviation:
Aviation, or air transport, refers to the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as balloons and airships.
Kite:
A kite is a tethered heavier-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have a bridle and tail to guide the face of the kite so the wind can lift it. Some kite designs don’t need a bridle; box kites can have a single attachment point. A kite may have fixed or moving anchors. One technical definition is that a kite is “a collection of tether-coupled wing sets“.
Supersonic:
Supersonic travel is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound (Mach 1). For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) at sea level, this speed is approximately 343 m/s, 1,125 ft/s, 768 mph, 667 knots, or 1,235 km/h. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) are often referred to as hypersonic. Flights during which only some parts of the air surrounding an object, such as the ends of rotor blades, reach supersonic speeds are called transonic. This occurs typically somewhere between Mach 0.8 and Mach 1.23.
Hypersonic:
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that is highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally referred to speeds of Mach 5 and above.
Heavier than air jets:
An aircraft is a machine that is able to fly by gaining support from the air.
Gas balloon:
A gas balloon is a balloon that flies in the air because it is filled with a gas less dense than air or lighter than air. It is tied to a thread to prevent it from flying up in the air. It is also sealed at the bottom to ensure that the gas doesn’t escape.
Aeroplane or airplane:
An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a powered, fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectrum of uses for airplanes includes recreation, transportation of goods and people, military, and research. Worldwide, commercial aviation transports more than four billion passengers annually on airliners[1] and transports more than 200 billion tonne-kilometres[2] of cargo annually, which is less than 1% of the world’s cargo movement.[3] Most airplanes are flown by a pilot on board the aircraft, but some are designed to be remotely or computer-controlled.
Discussion:
Do you remember the first time you flew aboard an airplane? If so, what were your feelings before take off, during the flight, and while landing?
Do you flew often, what is longest flight you have ever done?
Do you enjoy the flight, or is it an ordeal you have to endure?
Ordeal:
An extremely unpleasant experience, especially one that lasts for a long time
They have suffered a terrible ordeal.
Children will no longer have to go through the ordeal of giving evidence.
Endure:
To suffer something difficult or unpleasant in a patient way over a long period.
He endured solitude and torture for months at a time.
Motion sickness:
A feeling of being sick while traveling in a car, airplane, train, etc. The usual British word is travel sickness.
They were feeling the motion sickness take hold of them while riding on the bus.
© All photos by edudelcorral
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