Wings Assignment #2

3. Who took the lead in establishing aviation as a business and what effect did it have on the rest of the world?

The French were the ones who took the lead in establishing aviation as a business, by “transforming their experimental workshops into factories.” (126) Studies indicate that the French produced 1,023 airplanes between the years 1909 and 1913, though actual production figures were probably even higher.  With France dominating the aviation field, the rest of Europe followed suit and invested in flight technology due to its military potential.  “The military potential of the airplane remained unclear, but it would not do to allow a potential enemy to forge too far ahead.” (134)  Because of France, the rest of the world had no choice but to keep up, and be number one in aviation.

5. In your opinion, did the Wright Brothers’ patent suits affect the progress of aviation?

Yes, the Wright Brothers’ patent suits did affect the progress of aviation, but in a negative way.  As engineer Charles B. Hayward stated, “… The move on the part of the Wright brothers to establish the standing of their patents by having them adjudicated and, as this is an extremely lengthy process, to restrain infringers in the meantime, has lead to a perfect flood of criticism- even abuse and vilification- all of which has been misguided to say the least.” (145) First, as Hayward pointed out, this took a long amount of time to get their patents in place, and added even more time with all the lawsuits that ensued.  Legal battles put a damper in progress, as the innovators were focused on winning lawsuits instead of making further advances in aviation at the time.  It was interesting that the family thought that all these patent battles weakened Wilbur and increased his susceptibility to the typhoid.  Perhaps Wilbur and Orville could have made even more advances with the possibility that Wilbur may not have gotten sick if he hadn’t been so worn out.

6. How did the military use the airplane prior to and during WWI?

The military used the airplane prior to and during WWI as multiple things: “reconnaissance, artillery direction, ground attack, and bombing” (153).  It was a useful tool for the armies and the troops on the ground; however it was not preconceived that a single pilot could be flying an airplane with a fixed machine gun that could take down enemy aircraft.  Before 1915 this method of attack didn’t exist, there was no easy way to take down another plane. Pilots would arm themselves with pistols, rifles, grenades, and grappling ropes to hinder the enemy planes. Not until Roland Garros attached a machine gun to his Moraine-Saulnier L monoplane was this way of warfare in the air possible.