- Summarize the new aviation technologies that emerged as a result of WWII.
A great deal of new aviation technologies were a result of WWII. German engineering produced a significant amount of these new technologies. As the Allied troops invaded their camps, they discovered planes being built by slave labor, secret plants, and the P1101, which was near completion yet had not been flown. This plane had an incredible design, with wings that swept so that it could fly in a great deal of conditions. American engineers used this to design the Bell X-5 with sweeping wings.
One of the most radical discoveries by the allies, however, was the Horton Ho IX V3. This was a twin jet-powered flying wing. It was not yet completed, but was the next generation of the Ho IX V2, which had topped speeds of 497 miles per hour. However, it was destroyed in a landing. These were not the only jets they discovered. There was also the Me 261, He 162, and the Me 163 which was rocket powered.
Planes were not the only topic of aviation interest for the germans. In addition to these many planes, the Germans had also developed the most advanced high-speed wind tunnel. This was also discovered, along with those who had created it.
2. Discuss the beginning of supersonic flight research in the United States and whether or not this technology was a priority.
This time period was also considered the jet age by aviation standards. Typically these planes maxed out under 125 miles per hour. In 1941, a german engineer created a Me 163 Comet, which was both rocket powered and swept wing. This plane reached speeds of over 500 miles per hour. This was the fastest plane of its time and was the first operational rocket plane. Although the gas turbojet engine seemed as though it would be less successful than the rocket, it proved otherwise.
The concept of high speed flight was not of great importance to most. Despite this, two different men, Frank Wittle and Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain, conceived a notion for a turbojet engine independently from one another. Neither Wittle nor von Ohain were successful in gaining a contract from manufacturers, leaving them to independent sponsors. The result was an engine in which the impeller sends air through diffusing chambers to be compressed and then sent into the combustion chambers. They had developed similar engines ultimately, however there was still a need for a smaller, more fuel efficient engine. This engine would be created by Anselm Franz. It wasn’t until there were successful engines that the US reluctantly became interested in this venture.
3. What role did the helicopter play in the development of aviation technology?
The helicopter was a result of several different people working together. Even as early as Leonardo da Vinci people have been designing a machine that could lift straight up. Initially, once they were being built, they were very difficult to land and ultimately caused many dangerous situations. These were called autogiros, and they were very unstable, leaving much need for improvement. It wasn’t until World War II that helicopters became practical. It quickly became an important part of the military. The turning point for the helicopter was the invention of the turboshaft engine. It increased the performance so greatly that it rotary-wing flight became reasonable. This leap in helicopter capabilities lead to an advancement in the military uses. It was suddenly a great option for rescue missions, and dropping people in places too tight for a plane to land. The ability to maintain lift while stationary was truly revolutionary, although it seems that it often does not get much attention. From the very beginning, those who had designed autogiros and other variations of the helicopter had predicted that helicopters could be used beyond the military—and that they have. They are crucial resources for hospitals, film crews, sign seers, and those who can afford a fun ride. Ultimately, helicopters helped the aviation industry branch even farther into the daily lives of civilians.
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