Wings Writing Assignment #3 By: Danny Keltner

11.) What technological innovations in aircraft engine design occurred during the period between the wars and how did it affect the aircraft industry?

      There were several technological innovations that occurred in air craft engine design.  The aircraft during the war had rotary engines, but after the war these engines had reached it’s potential.  So these engines were replaced with a water—cooled in-line engine.  These engines were called radial-engines and the engines were smaller and lighter than the engines during the war.  However these engines still had the problem of overheating.  So in 1923, Sam Heron solved the challenge of overheating by cylindrical cooling (pg. 244).  He created a valve filled with liquid sodium that would disperse heat so cylindrical cooling could occur (called the ‘whirlwind’/ J-5C in 1925).  The problem with the whirlwind however was that it had a very large frontal area and this caused an unnecessary amount of drag.  Townend created a narrow ring that helped with the drag and keep the cooling mechanism functional (pg. 244).  Even after that Fred Weick and his staff of NACA Langley helped create the NACA cowling which helped reduce drag even more and made the cylinders have a maximized cooling effect (pg. 244).  The NACA cowling helped improve the speed of the aircraft's.  This affected the aircraft industry because the military was looking for the best possible engines they could be used.  This caused a competition between different companies to try and create the best engine that could create the most speed but weigh the less.  It also led to aircraft's being created to fly across the Atlantic.  Also, this competition (mainly between Wright Aeronautical and Pratt and Whitney) caused, market incentives to take place so bankers and businessmen viewed aviation as more of a business now.  (pg 246).      

4. How did the science of meteorology relate to aviation?

                The science of meteorology related to aviation by looking at the weather of a location and transmitting that information to a pilot.  It also aided in the development of passenger airlines. A man named Daniel Guggenheim who ran the Guggenheim Fund, wanted to prove that an airline is able to carry passengers with comfort.  One of the “model airlines” would include weather forecasting facility.  This is where meteorology came in.  Gugggenheim hired a Swedish student Carl-Gustaf Rossby who became the founder of modern meteorology (pg. 251).  He developed a weather-reporting system for the Western Air Express (WAE).  Gunnenheim also gave Rossby the ability to use the Bjerknes air-mass analysis system for forecasting.  The meteorologists at the observation posts on the WAE line were able to radio the forecasts to the pilots to let them know what they should prepare for.  The navy and army took notice and used the forecasts as well (pg. 252).  Meteorology gave pilots the knowledge of what is to come which was much needed information.  Pilots were now aware of their surroundings and it was now safer to fly. This might have led to the creation of passenger airlines as a result of the increased safety of flying.  The Bjerknes air-mass analysis system was so impressive that the U.S. weather Bureau would use it (pg. 252).  

6. What influence did Charles Lindbergh have on aviation during his career?

                Charles Lindbergh first started out as a barnstormer, then became an army pilot, and after an airmail pilot.  However, he looked for more challenges.  Charles Lindbergh flew from Roosevelt Field, New York to the Le Bourget Air Field in Paris, France on May 21, 1927.  He was an underdog in this flight because many famous pilots were looking to do the same thing before him.  Also, he was only using a single-engine airplane which others believed to not be satisfactory.  This caused a critical shift in the idea of aviation.  This was the first time someone flew from New York to Paris.  His determination to make a plane for this task aided in the creation of planes that could travel across the Atlantic.  It wasn't Lindbergh as a person that influenced aviation, but the idea of Lindbergh was the influence.  He showed the necessary qualities to become a heroic pilot.  These qualities were, “courage, quiet confidence, modesty, and spiritual freedom.” (pg. 254).  He helped changed the image of a pilot as more of a celebrity.  He managed to use his celebrity power for the advancement of aviation.  He went on a national tour to help people be more aware of aviation and he also encouraged construction of local airports.  After his downfall because of his ideas of anti-Antisemitism he still influenced aviation.  He was able to teach pilots concepts of how to conserve fuel and extend their range (pg. 263).  He also helped create two commercial airlines (transcontinental Air transport and the Pan American World Airways.)  (pg 262).  He also influenced Harry Guggenheim to support the ideas of rockets (“upper-atmosphere research) which lead to the creation of space shuttles.