Airplanes 1990-1999

Emirates Boeing 777-LR taking off from Dubai International Airport

Origin: The Boeing 777 is a family of long-range wide-body twin-engine jet airliners developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airlines in 1994. This family of Boeing was influenced by the first wide-body passenger airliners, which included the DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. 

Purpose: The Boeing 777 was made to challenge the DC-10 and the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. The people at Boeing decided that they wanter a larger aircraft, with wider fuselage, flexible interior configurations, lower maintainance-cost, and a twin-engine configuration. 

Value: The Boeing 7777 was the first aircraft to be designed entirely on computer, a breakthrough for its time. The 777's twin-engines and almost perfectly round fuselage is probably the most efficient method to move thru the airways. It is capable of taking passengers half-way through the world non-stop. Boeing went all out with redesigning the design process for this plane by bringing suppliers, customers, and manufacturers together. It had the most revolutionary change in cabin design and, of course, introduced a reliable, efficient and safe twin engine plane.

Limitations- As with everything in the world, there are always limitations. With the Boeing 777, there came a lot of criticism for it being too expensive. Some people saw it as a a waste of money, and expected it to fail. The Boeing 777 is one of the most expensive airliner out there, making airline companies hesitant to invest in it.

Sources: 

1. http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/777family/

2. http://www.airlines-inform.com/commercial-aircraft/Boeing-777-300.html

Airplanes 1980-1989

British Airways Boeing 747-400 takes off from London Heathrow Airport, England

Origin: Following its introduction in 1969, the Boeing 747 became a major success with airlines and the flying public. In the Boeing 747-400, its major influences were its family members (shown on the left). After the announcement, Northwest Airlines placed the first 10 orders of the aircraft.

Purpose: The purpose of the Boeing 747-400 was to provide an even bigger aircraft for public use with more technological advances. It is capable of holding almost 600 people based on its layout. This four-engined aircraft uses the double deck for part of its lengths and to serve as the first class lounge. Not only that but Boeing designed the aircraft so that it can be easily converted into a cargo carrier, if it is called upon. 

Value: As the world's first wide-body jetliner, the 747 had revolutionized air travel, and cemented its manufacturer's dominance in the passenger aircraft market. The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. For the first time there was an upper deck in an aircraft, and in the 747-400, it was bigger than any others. Also for the first time ever, the airliner offered in-cabin entertainment. The 747-400 is the most common passenger version in service, and amongst the fastest airline in service with high-subsonic cruise speeds, and even used by current Presidents as their means to travel.


Limitations: Even though at the time, companies wanted BIG aircrafts in their fleet, the demand has really died down. Most airliners simply don’t want big, four-engine planes anymore. 4 engine means more fuel, which means more money which means less efficient. The amount of passengers needing to go long distances have also decreased, meaning there are plenty of open seats available.

Sources:
1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/classic/boeing-747.htm
2.http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1025/Boeing-747-future-in-doubt-as-production-and-demand-fall

Airplanes 1970-1979

British Airways Concorde (1976)

Interior of Air France Concorde (1976)

Origin: Concorde was jointly developed and produced by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) under an Anglo-French treaty. The origins of the of the Concorde project date back to 1950s, when Morien Morgan developed a committee to study supersonic transport (SST). First flown in 1969, Concorde entered service in 1976 and continued commercial flights for 27 years. A total of 20 aircrafts were built; seven each delivered to Air France and British Airways, and 6 prototypes. 

Purpose: The purpose of the Concorde was to provide fast transportation from place to place. For the people during that period, time was a major concern. Concorde was invented because, at the time, the jet engine airliners were still relatively new. The general feeling was that since we'd already shrunk the world by a factor of two with the advent of the jet airliner, it only stood to reason that we should do it again with an SST. At the time, it seemed like the next logical step.


Value: Concorde is by far the most symbolic aircraft in the world; her shape is one of gracefulness and pure beauty. The Concorde was a huge step in aviation because for the first time, there were airliners that carried passengers that could go faster than the speed of sound. Flight durations were now cut into half and made air travel faster than ever. Many people were attracted to it for its fast speeds and revolutionary technology.

Limitations: The Concorde got discontinued in 2003 for many reason such as the general downturn in aviation, the 9/11 attacks, a major crash, mechanical problems, the high maintenance cost, and low economic gains. Both British Airways and Air France cited that after the 9/11 attacks, there was slump in air travel and not enough money to maintain the aircrafts. Another factor that played a part in its retirement was the crash (video above), which was caused by mechanical problems. After the investigation on this crash, it was revealed that most all of the Concordes had the same problem, and were bound to have similar crash.  

Sources: 
1. http://www.concordelegacy.org.uk/en/concorde/?legacy=rtf
2.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/131246/Concorde

Airplanes 1960-1969

Antonov An-22 (1965) by the Antonov Design Bureau

Origin: The Antonov An-22 is an aircraft designed by Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. In the early 1960s’ the Antonov Design Bureau produced many mockup; however none of them ever went further. Then came the prototype Antheus which was then further developed and produced, renaming it the Antonov An-22 in 1965. 


Purpose: In the late 1950s’, the Soviet Union required a large military transport aircraft which inspired the building of this aircraft. The aircraft was designed as a strategic airlift,  specifically to expand the Soviet Airborne Troops’ capability to land with their new vehicles. This model saw extensive use in major military and humanitarian airlifts of the Soviet Union.  



Value: The design of the Antonov An-22 was the first Soviet wide-body aircraft and remains the world's largest turboprop-powered aircraft to date. For the first time in history, such a large aircraft was developed solely for cargo. It helped the Soviet Union transport resources, cargo, and goods from place to place faster during the war. After the war, it was able to help transport goods to countries who had just been struck by a national disasters. 

Limitation- Even though this aircraft was made for cargo, it was not capable of taking people anywhere. It was solely for cargo, meaning if it was required to transport people, it would be completely useless. The aircraft took much more fuel than normal aircraft which made it less efficient. Since the aircraft was so big, the crosswinds while taking off and landing greatly affect it safety.


Sources:
1. http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=36
2. http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=508

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Airplanes 1950-1959

The Avrocar VZ-9

Origin: The Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar was a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft developed by Avro Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) as part of a secret U.S. military projects carried out in the early years of the Cold War on November 12, 1959. The Avrocar was the ultimate result of a series of blue skies research projects by designer "Jack" Frost, who had joined Avro Canada in June 1947.

The Avrocar VZ-9 Blueprint

Purpose:  The Avrocar intended to exploit the Coandă effect to provide lift and thrust from a single "turborotor" blowing exhaust out the rim of the disk-shaped aircraft to provide anticipated VTOL-like performance. In the air, it would have resembled a flying saucer.Originally designed as a fighter-like aircraft which was capable of high speeds and altitudes. It was mainly used for secret US military projects and mission, and people at the time had no idea it excisted.

Value: This aircraft was significant for its time, because it was the first time an aircraft had been developed in a shape of a disk and was capable of vertical take off and landing. It was also important because it was one of the first aircraft that was hidden from the public.

Limitations: When flown without tethers, the Avrocar was unstable and could reach top speed of only 35 mph. The engines created excessive heat and noise which ruined the element of surprise on the government missions. After funding of this aircraft ran out, the project was cancelled in 1961.



Source:
1. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10856
2. http://news.uk.msn.com/in-pictures/planes-from-the-1950s#image=7

Airplanes 1940-1949

  1944 Constellation by Lockheed

Origin: In 1944 the first production model of the Lockheed Constellation, " Connie" debuted. Lockheed had been working on a four-engined pressurized airline since 1937; however in 1944 it finally became a reality. According to Anthony Sampson in Empires of the Sky, Lockheed may have undertaken the complicated design, but Hughes Company may have drove the concept, shape, capabilities, and appearance of the Constellation during the design process.

Purpose: This aircraft was made upon the request of major stock holder, Howard Hughes, who wanted a 40-passenger transcontinental airline with a 3,500 mi range. The Constellation was used as a civilian air transport and seeing service Berlin Airlift. It was also used as the presidential aircraft for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Value: This aircraft was significant for its time because it was capable of flying 57 passengers non-stop coast-to-coast above the weather in eight and a half hours. It was the first plane to do such things, with more than just 20 passengers. It served as the presidential aircraft, showing other people that it was safe and useful. It was also so large, that it was used for transferring resources during the war and later on in the Berlin Airlift.

Limitations: Over time, the Constellation’s piston engines started to die out and could not do over-see flights. After another couple years, the piston engines were so bad that they could barely do domestic flights. After many crashes and investigations, the Lockheed Constellation was retired in 1978.


Sources:
1. http://www.twaflightattendants.com/liftoffhtml/vintageplanes.html
2. http://jack-frye.blogspot.com/2013/05/historic-constellation-flight-april-17.html

Airplanes 1930-1939

Colonial Airlines Douglas DC-3 (1935)

Origin: The Douglas DC-3 was a one of kind airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1935. The aircraft was a aircraft based on the DC-2, built upon the ideas introduced by the Boeing 27 and United Airlines company. The DC-3 was a direct result of a telephone call from American Airlines CEO R. Smith to Donald Douglas, to try and persuade him to design a sleeper aircraft.


Purpose: The purpose of the DC-3 was to make an aircraft based upon the DC-2 to replace American’s Curtiss Condor II biplanes.  A team led by chief engineer Arthur E. Raymond took nearly two years to make this aircraft. However, what they made was far better than what they expected or hoped for. After the introduction of it, the DC-3 was now in the production line and was delivered to Americans. Fortune magazine reporter wrote:

• “Halfway along the runway, she left the ground so smoothly that none of the first fliers in the cabin realized what had happened until they saw the whole field rushing away behind them and the factory lights winking through the Jersey murk ahead.”

Value: The new aircraft could now make eastbound transcontinental flights in 15 hours, when it used to take 25 hours. The new plane could stay in the air for longer, go faster (thanks to the engines), was soundproof, and the amenities inside of it were better than ever. Not only that, but the cost for traveling was lower than ever, with the cost per mile decreasing from 5.7 cents to .05 cents. By the 1940s’, the DC-3 had convinced Americans to take to skies in record numbers, with more than two million American going on airplanes.

Limitations: Even though one of the most successful and influential aircraft of its time, the DC-3 was soon surpassed by other aircrafts in the future. As with most aircrafts, it did have some crashes but it was not a major factor in it being less used. As new technological advances come about, the old is usually less a part of the future.


Sources:

1. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-dc-3-revolutionized-air-travel-5444300/?no-ist