Aviation History Class

[baldeagle]

A friend of mine is teaching an aviation history class, and has asked for my opinions, so I thought I'd ask for your opinions (see also a thread in Pioneer Aviation). What were the major technological innovations in WW1 aviation? My suggestion was Junkers' cantilever all-metal high lift wings, which in some forms are still with us today. The text book cited Fokker and the interrupter, that should get some debate. Other thoughts?

Also, what were the biggest challenges to the WW1 pilot?

[Lufbery]

Originally Posted by baldeagle

A friend of mine is teaching an aviation history class, and has asked for my opinions, so I thought I'd ask for your opinions (see also a thread in Pioneer Aviation). What were the major technological innovations in WW1 aviation? My suggestion was Junkers' cantilever all-metal high lift wings, which in some forms are still with us today. The text book cited Fokker and the interrupter, that should get some debate. Other thoughts?

Next to the Junkers all-metal monoplane, Fokker's fully cantilevered, thick, wireless wings would be the major technological innovation in my opinion. My question is whether Junkers or Fokker developed the thick airfoil section first. I'll have to do some research on that.

A great resource for aviation history is this document from the NASA History Office:

Quest for Performance; The Evolution of Modern Aircraft

It's a link, if you click on it, you'll find a fantastic, easy-to-read document.

Also, what were the biggest challenges to the WW1 pilot?

What wasn't a big challenge for WWI pilots? They faced extreme cold at high altitudes, mostly without oxygen, in open cockpits, and mostly without parachutes. Nearly everything on the airplane was highly inflammable. There were no such things as self-sealing fuel tanks, and the "dope" used to seal the aircraft fabric was an exceptionally efficient fuel.

There was no such thing as a robust method for instrument flying, and the training pilots received was far, far below what the average general aviation pilot receives today.

In addition to being able to get up, fly around, and get down safely, pilots also had to shoot at, and get shot at by, the enemy.

Lastly, and this is often overlooked, flying and fighting from the air was exceptionally hard on the mental health of the pilots. Most first hand accounts of the war mention how hard the air war was on the "nerves." We'd call it post traumatic stress now.

The above are generalizations, but they hold true for the majority of the war. I think of WWI in the air as a romantic event, but the reality is that it was exceptionally dangerous and difficult for all of the combatants.

Cool topic; thanks for starting it!

Regards,

[Volker_Nemsch]

If you are willing to add another 2 years I would propose the following 2 aircraft:

Junkers F.13
(all metal-aircraft, 4 passengers in a comfortable cabin, suitable for all existing airfields and so a good basis for starting an airline, reliable technics and with a lot of potential for further development)

Zeppelin-Staaken E-4/20
(revolutionary designed 4-engined passenger aircraft, 12-18 passengers in a comfortable cabin, unfortunately it never had a real chance to prove its abilities)

There were a lot of outstanding military aircraft in 1917/18 but these two are the result of a clever and useful transformation from hawks to doves.

The biggest challenges for a WW1 pilot probably were the first weeks at the front - the chance to get the urgently needed experience to survive in an aerial battle.

[Barrett]

Volker semi-beat me to it. I was going to note the Sikorsky Ilya Mouromets bombers derived from the 1913 "Grand" design. First multi-engine aircraft with a very well conceived layout that's still with us today: enclosed cabin and cockpit, relatively long range and good payload. (Sergei S. has a wonderful presentation on this subject, if you ever get to attend. But he's a moving target--haven't seen him this year.)

Procedurally, night flying was much advanced during TGW,and of course doctrine evolved rapidly for all manner of endeavors.

Flight training also advanced by leaps & bounds. By 1919 the balance between academics and cockpit time was beginning to resemble something a student pilot might recognize today.

[Simba]

My three 'aporth:
The development of Naval aviation by the combatants - particularly the Royal Naval Air Service, which pioneered carrier operations and carried out the first successful aerial torpedo attacks.

Up spirits!

[TomVrille]

Originally Posted by baldeagle

What were the major technological innovations in WW1 aviation?

Some technological innovations weren't very glamorous, but were very significant. Two such advances were the development of air-to-ground wireless communications and aerial photography, along with the flightweight equipment that enabled these technologies to mature.

Originally Posted by baldeagle

Also, what were the biggest challenges to the WW1 pilot?

Equipment reliability, particularly of engines and armament, was certainly a challenge, as were the medical problems associated with open cockpit flying, such as frostbite and ear infections.

[Epee]

The most important advance was the synergistic result of the myriad of technical improvements, the evolution of the airplane from a rich man's toy into a practical and even decisive tool.