Air Travel History

Mankind dreamed of flying for thousands of years. People have looked to the sky and pondered the possibilities of soaring above the earth since the beginning of human history. These dreams became reality in the 20th century. From humble beginnings, air travel has developed into the most popular form of long distance travel in the world.

The First Flight

The first airplane flight took place in North Carolina in 1903. Orville and Wilbur Wright were innovative brothers who hoped to pilot a flying machine for the first time in history. They did just that on a fateful December morning when the brothers succeeded in taking off in their airplane and flying it for 120 feet. Orville was at the controls for this 12 second flight. It was to be the foundation for a century of aviation innovation.

World War I

Airplane designs improved as World War I approached. Tractor biplanes with more powerful engines and propellers were developed. Airplanes were flown in combat as bombers, skirmishers and scouts. Legendary dogfights took place in the skies with characters, such as the infamous Red Baron, adding to the intrigue of air travel.

Crossing the Atlantic

Charles Lindbergh changed the conception of air travel permanently in 1927 when he became the first man to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane. This transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis airplane took 33 hours. He made it from New York City to Paris. Lindbergh's feat established airplanes as a legitimate mode of transportation for long-distance travel between countries and continents.

World War II and Commercial Aviation

Commercial air travel first appeared in the 1930s as airplanes became more sophisticated and comfortable for passengers. However, airfare was too expensive for the average person. Only wealthy businessmen could afford to fly. Passenger numbers increased greatly after World War II. Many of the military airfields built for the war were sold to cities and private investors. Douglas and Boeing emerged as the two most successful airplane manufacturers at this time. They developed pressurized and heated cabins, making it possible for planes to carry passengers through bad weather and over mountain ranges. Advances continued to be made in the 1950s and '60s, but air travel was still too expensive for most people. The federal government regulated fares, keeping prices high to appease airline moguls and unions.

Deregulation and Modern Air Travel

After decades of high fares, President Jimmy Carter and Congress deregulated air travel in 1978. Airlines began to establish their own routes and ticket prices. Many smaller companies started to chip away at the monopoly prices of larger carriers by charging reasonable fares for domestic flights. Deregulation made airplanes the most popular way to travel long distances. Only 205 million Americans had flown in 1975, before deregulation. This number increased to roughly 638 million by the year 2000. While the prestige of flying has been greatly diminished by large crowds at terminals and packed cabins in planes, air travel remains one of mankind's most important innovations to date.

References

• Centennial of Flight
• Global Aircraft