1. Flight Goes Mainstream
Overview & Objectives
Know about the significant milestone flights:
Charles Lindberg – Transatlantic
Amelia Earhart – Female Milestones
Jimmy Doolittle – Instrument Flying
Carl Spaatz – Air Refueling
Know about other significant contributions that helped flight become mainstream
Air Mail, Federal Regulation, Airlines
Know about early developments in commercial flight
Know about development of helicopters
Chapter 3, Lesson 2
Chapter 3, Lesson 2 & 3

2. Charles Lindbergh 1st person to make a solo transatlantic flight
Flew nonstop from NY to Paris
Opened people’s minds to more possibilities of air travel
In July 1927, toured country in his Spirit of St. Louis
Made 72 speeches in cities
Encouraged people to become pilots
Promoted civil aviation
Efforts Led to construction of 100s of airports
Courtesy of the Hill Aerospace Museum

3. Significance of the First Transatlantic Flight
The Wright brothers’ flight was a milestone flight
Date:
So was Lindbergh’s transatlantic solo flight
In early 20th century, such milestone flights came one after another
17 Dec 1903
Chapter 3, Lesson 2

4. Amelia Earhart 1st woman to fly across the Atlantic
First as a passenger
Public didn’t accept her as a hero
On 20 May 1932 became 1st woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
From Newfoundland to Ireland in 15 hrs
In her Lockheed Vega
She reached another milestone in 1935
1st pilot to fly from Hawaii to California
What next? Felt only goal left was a “true” round-the-world flight

5. Earhart’s Disappearance
Earhart took off 2 Jun 1937, w/ copilot Frederick Noonan
First 40 days all well - 22,000 miles
But on longest leg of the trip, New Guinea, to an Island in the Pacific, the plane disappeared
President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a massive search, but was unsuccessful
US Navy declared Earhart & Noonan lost at sea
Video

6. Chapter 3, Lesson 2

7. 1st Lt James Doolittle 24 Sep 1929 1st Lt James “Jimmy”
Doolittle made a milestone flight
1st successful blind flight
Took off and landed relying solely on instruments
inside the cockpit
Because of his work, manufacturers started equipping planes with instruments and two-way radios

8. First Aerial Refueling
Another hurdle to mainstream aviation was providing enough fuel for long-distance runs
Pilots needed a system for aerial refueling
In 1923, 1st Lt Lowell H. Smith & 1st Lt J. P. Richter, were able to stay airborne for 37 hours & 15 mins
Chapter 3, Lesson 2

9. The Question Mark
On New Year’s Day 1929, Maj Carl Spaatz took off in the Question Mark
Fokker C-2 Tri-motor
By time he landed—almost a week!! later—he had set an endurance record
Stayed up 150 hours, 40 mins
They had refueled 37 times!
Video – (7:24-9:36)
Chapter 3, Lesson 2

10. Airmail 15 May 1918, Post Office Department
started 1st airmail service
Used a few planes borrowed from the Army
Regular airmail service started 1924
Airmail not only sped up mail delivery—it contributed a
great deal to the development of the airlines

11. Airlines
On 20 May 1926, the Air Commerce Act was passed which provide the first federal safety regulation of aviation for pilots & aircraft
Beginnings of government control of aviation
Eventually led to the FAA
Sparked the growth of commercial airlines
Chapter 3, Lesson 2

12. William Boeing At end of WWI… Govt. cancelled many aircraft contracts
Many aircraft companies fell on hard times
Despite setback, Boeing kept his company going
Good position when govt. began to support aviation again
Opportunity came in the form of the new airmail service
In 1925 the govt. decided to let private firms carry mail
New companies sprang up to do the job
The government offered subsidies
Subsidy – govt. money paid to a person
or company that serves the public
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

13. Passenger Service
After a few years, the govt. began to support passenger service, too
New rules gave airlines incentives to fly larger planes w/ more passenger space
These rules also encouraged
the use of planes that could
fly in all types of weather
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

14. The Boeing 247 In 1933 Boeing rolled out the Boeing 247
1st all-metal airliner
Low wings, could cruise 189 mph
Could carry 10 passengers & 400 pounds of mail
“Same-day” service b/w NY & San Francisco now possible
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

15. The First Airlines By late 1920s, Charles Lindbergh’s
vision of civil aviation was taking form
Building & flying airplanes became
country’s most profitable business
By 1929, there were 44 scheduled airlines:
Transcontinental & Western Airlines (TWA)
American Airways
DC-3 carried 95% of commercial traffic in U.S.
Pan American Airways (Pan Am)
Florida, Atlantic Coast, South America
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

16. The C-47
During WWII, McDonnell Douglas developed a military version of the DC-3—the C-47 Skytrain “Gooney Bird”
(Another name for albatross—a large sea bird that can fly long distances without tiring)
Over 10,000 built for the Army Air Force
Some still in service today!
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

17. Aircraft Design Improves
During WWII, aircraft design made great strides
4-engine land planes improved
New runways appeared around world
As a result, seaplanes lost their competitive edge
They gave way to new types of land-based aircraft
Chapter 3, Lesson 3
Courtesy of Clipart.com

18. Developing the Helicopter
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

19. Developing the Helicopter
Involved several inventors in different countries and even in different centuries
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)
Aerial Screw
1842 Steam powered model helicopter
But many improvements were needed to create a practical helicopter
Early inventors didn’t understand the forces facing the helicopter
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

20. First Successful Flight in an Autogiro
1923, Juan de la Cierva built & flew
an autogiro
Looked like an airplane but had an overhead rotor instead of wings - Had serious drawbacks
For example, it couldn’t move in all directions
During the 1930s - designers continued to experiment
Video
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

21. The Problem of Control Had overcome torque of the rotor blade
Helicopter gets “lift” from
But when the rotor turns, the rest of the machine wants to spin in the opposite direction
Ways to overcome torque:
2 rotors spin in opposite directions
Video
Or a tail rotor:
Small propeller on tail
Offsets main rotor
torque
spinning rotor blades
Chapter 3, Lesson 3
CH-47 Chinook
UH-1 Huey

22. First Practical Helicopter
Igor Sikorsky’s VS-300
Had one main rotor & a tail rotor
Early experiments were tethered
Sep 1939, made 1st vertical takeoffs & landings
Could carry a useful load & perform work
The pilot could control it well
Video
From this small aircraft, the
helicopter developed into the
workhorse of the skies
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

23. Military Uses of Helicopters
1st use in WWII
Workhorse of Korean & Vietnam Wars
Carry the wounded & rescue downed pilots
Well suited for the jungle warfare of Vietnam
Since then, helicopters have been an important part of US military tactics
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

24. Civilian Use of Helicopters
Crucial in search-and-rescue
US Coast Guard relies on them to save fishermen & sailors in distress at sea
Used for medical transport, police, broadcast news, Hwy-traffic reports
Play important roles in the construction, timber, offshore oil industries, fire fighting