Aviation 58422 225828688 2008-07-15T16:17:57Z SpuriousQ 288643 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/OrgasGirl|OrgasGirl]] ([[User talk:OrgasGirl|talk]]) to last version by McSly {{transport}}{{portal}} '''Aviation''' refers to activities involving man-made flying devices ([[aircraft]]), including the people, organizations, and regulatory bodies involved with them. == History == {{main|Aviation history}} Many cultures have built devices that travel through the air, from the earliest projectiles such as stones and spears, to more sophisticated buoyant or aerodynamic devices such as the mechanical pigeon of [[Archytas]] in Ancient Greece<ref>[http://www.tmth.edu.gr/en/aet/1/14.html Archytas of Tarentum, Technology Museum of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece]</ref><ref>Automata history [http://automata.co.uk/History%20page.htm]</ref>, the [[boomerang]] in [[Australia]], the hot air [[Kongming lantern]], and [[kite]]s. There are early legends of human flight such as the story of [[Icarus]], and later, more credible claims of short-distance human flights including a kite flight by [[Yuan Huangtou]] in China, and the [[parachute]] flight and [[Flight controls|controlled]] [[glider]] flight of [[Abbas Ibn Firnas]] (Armen Firman). The modern age of aviation began with the first untethered human lighter-than-air flight on [[November 21]] [[1783]], in a [[hot air balloon]] designed by the [[Montgolfier brothers]]. The practicality of balloons was limited because they could only travel downwind. It was immediately recognized that a steerable, or [[Airship|dirigible]], balloon was required. [[Jean-Pierre Blanchard]] flew the first human-powered dirigible in 1784 and crossed the English Channel in one in 1785. Subsequent early dirigible developments included machine-powered propulsion ([[Henri Giffard]], 1852), rigid frames ([[David Schwarz]], 1896), and improved speed and maneuverability ([[Alberto Santos-Dumont]], 1901). [[Image:Wrightflyer.jpg|thumb|left|First flight by the Wright Brothers, December 17, 1903]] [[Image:Hindenburg at lakehurst.jpg|thumb|''[[LZ 129 Hindenburg|Hindenburg]]'' at [[Lakehurst Naval Air Station]], 1936]] While there are [[First flying machine|many competing claims]] for the earliest powered, heavier-than-air flight, the most widely-accepted date is [[December 17]] [[1903]] by the [[Wright brothers]], though their aircraft was impractical to fly for more than a short distance because of control problems. The widespread adoption of [[aileron]]s made aircraft much easier to manage, and only a decade later, at the start of [[World War I]], heavier-than-air powered aircraft had become practical for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and even attacks against ground positions. Aircraft began to transport people and cargo as designs grew larger and more reliable. In contrast to small non-rigid [[Non-rigid airship|blimps]], giant [[rigid airship]]s became the first aircraft to transport passengers and cargo over great distances. The best known aircraft of this type were manufactured by the German [[Zeppelin]] company. The most successful Zeppelin was the [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin]]. It flew over one million miles, including an around-the-world flight in August 1929. However, the dominance of the Zeppelins over the airplanes of the that period, which had a range of only a few hundred miles, was diminishing as airplane design advanced. The "Golden Age" of the airships ended on June 6, 1937 when the [[Hindenburg (airship)|Hindenburg]] caught fire killing 36 people. Although there have been periodic initiatives to revive their use, airships have seen only niche application since that time. Great progress was made in the field of aviation during the 1920s and 1930s, such as [[Charles Lindbergh|Charles Lindbergh's]] transatlantic flight in 1927, and [[Charles Kingsford Smith]]'s transpacific flight the following year. One of the most successful designs of this period was the [[Douglas DC-3]] which became the first [[airliner]] that was profitable carrying passengers exclusively, starting the modern era of passenger airline service. By the beginning of [[World War II]], many towns and cities had built airports, and there were numerous qualified pilots available. The war brought many innovations to aviation, including the first [[turbojet|jet]] aircraft and the first liquid-fueled [[rocket]]s. [[Image:Helios cthomas.jpg|thumb|left|NASA's Helios researches solar powered flight.]] After WWII, especially in North America, there was a boom in [[general aviation]], both private and commercial, as thousands of pilots were released from military service and many inexpensive war-surplus transport and training aircraft became available. Manufacturers such as [[Cessna]], [[The New Piper Aircraft|Piper]], and [[Beechcraft]] expanded production to provide light aircraft for the new middle class market. By the 1950s, the development of civil jets grew, beginning with the [[de Havilland Comet]], though the first widely-used passenger jet was the [[Boeing 707]], because it was much more economical than other planes at the time. At the same time, [[gas turbine|turboprop]] propulsion began to appear for smaller commuter planes, making it possible to serve small-volume routes in a much wider range of weather conditions. [[Yuri Gagarin]] was the first human to travel to space on [[April 12]], [[1961]], while [[Neil Armstrong]] was the first to set foot on the moon on [[July 21]], [[1969]]. Since the 1960s, [[composite material|composite]] airframes and quieter, more efficient engines have become available, and the [[Concorde]] provided supersonic passenger service for a time, but the most important lasting innovations have taken place in instrumentation and control. The arrival of [[transistor|solid-state]] electronics, the [[Global Positioning System]], [[communications satellite|satellite communications]], and increasingly small and powerful [[computer]]s and [[light-emitting diode|LED]] displays, have dramatically changed the cockpits of [[airliner]]s and, increasingly, of smaller aircraft as well. Pilots can navigate much more accurately and view terrain, obstructions, and other nearby aircraft on a map or through [[synthetic vision]], even at night or in low visibility. On [[June 21]] [[2004]], [[Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne|SpaceShipOne]] became the first privately funded aircraft to make a [[spaceflight]], opening the possibility of an aviation market outside the earth's atmosphere. Meanwhile, flying prototypes of aircraft powered by alternative fuels, such as [[ethanol]], [[electricity]], and even [[solar energy]], are becoming more common and may soon enter the mainstream, at least for light aircraft. ==Civil aviation== {{main|Civil aviation}} Civil aviation includes all non-military flying, both [[general aviation]] and [[scheduled air transport]]. ===Air transport=== {{main|Airline}} [[Image:Swissa330.jpg|thumb|right|[[Swiss International Air Lines]] [[Airbus A330]]]] There are five major manufacturers of civil transport aircraft (in alphabetical order): *[[Airbus]], based in [[France]] *[[Boeing]], based in the [[United States]] *[[Bombardier]], based in [[Canada]] *[[Embraer]], based in [[Brazil]] *[[Tupolev]], based in [[Russia]] (scheduled to be merged into the [[United Aircraft Building Corporation]]) Boeing, Airbus, and Tupolev concentrate on wide-body and narrow-body jet [[airliner]]s, while Bombardier and Embraer concentrate on [[regional airliner]]s. Large networks of specialized parts suppliers from around the world support these manufacturers, who sometimes provide only the initial design and final assembly in their own plants. The Chinese [[ACAC consortium]] will also soon enter the civil transport market with its [[ACAC ARJ21]] regional jet.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1670256,00.html China's Aircraft Industry Gets Off the Ground - TIME<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Until the 1970s, most major airlines were [[flag carrier]]s, sponsored by their governments and heavily protected from competition. Since then, [[open skies]] agreements have resulted in increased competition and choice for consumers, coupled with falling prices for airlines. The combination of high fuel prices, low fares, high salaries, and crises such as the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] and the [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS epidemic]] have driven many older airlines to government-bailouts, bankruptcy or mergers. At the same time, [[low-cost carrier]]s such as [[Ryanair]] and [[Southwest Airlines|Southwest]] have flourished. ===General aviation=== {{main|General aviation}} [[Image:cessna.120.g-btbw.arp.jpg|thumb|right|1947 [[Cessna 140|Cessna 120]]]] [[Image:ixess hang glider arp.jpg|thumb|right|A weight-shift [[ultralight aviation|ultralight aircraft]], the [[Air Creation]] Tanarg]] ''General aviation'' includes all non-scheduled civil flying, both [[private aviation|private]] and [[commercial aviation|commercial]]. General aviation may include business flights, [[air charter]], private aviation, flight training, [[hot air balloon|ballooning]], [[parachuting]], [[glider|gliding]], [[hang gliding]], [[aerial photography]], [[Powered Hang Glider|foot-launched powered hang gliders]], air ambulance, crop dusting, charter flights, traffic reporting, police air patrols and forest fire fighting. Each country regulates aviation differently, but general aviation usually falls under different regulations depending on whether it is private or commercial and on the type of equipment involved. Many small aircraft manufacturers, including [[Cessna]], [[The New Piper Aircraft|Piper]], [[Diamond Aircraft Industries|Diamond]], [[Mooney Airplane Company|Mooney]], [[Cirrus Design]], [[Raytheon]] and others serve the general aviation market, with a focus on private aviation and flight training. The most important recent developments for small aircraft (which form the bulk of the GA fleet) have been the introduction of advanced [[avionics]] (including [[Global Positioning System|GPS]]) that were formerly found only in large [[airliner]]s, and the introduction of [[composite material]]s to make small aircraft lighter and faster. [[Ultralight aviation|Ultralight]] and [[homebuilt aircraft]] have also become increasingly popular for recreational use, since in most countries that allow private aviation, they are much less expensive and less heavily regulated than certified aircraft. ==Military aviation== {{main|Aerial warfare}} Simple [[balloon (aircraft)|balloons]] were used as surveillance aircraft as early as the 18th century. Over the years, [[military aircraft]] have been built to meet ever increasing capability requirements. Manufacturers of military aircraft compete for contracts to supply their government's arsenal. Aircraft are selected based on factors like cost, performance, and the speed of production. [[Image:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.jpg|thumb|The [[Lockheed SR-71]] remains unsurpassed in many areas of performance.]] ===Types of military aircraft=== *[[Fighter aircraft]]'s primary function is to destroy other aircraft. (e.g. [[Sopwith Camel]], [[A6M Zero]], [[F-15]], [[MiG-29]], [[Su-27]], [[F-22]]). *[[Ground attack|Ground attack aircraft]] are used against [[Tactical bombing|tactical]] earth-bound targets. (e.g. [[Junkers Ju 87|Junkers Stuka diver bomber]], [[Ilyushin Il-2]] ,[[J-22 Orao]], [[Sukhoi Su-25]], and the [[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10]]). *[[Bomber]]s are generally used against more [[Strategic bombing|strategic]] targets. (e.g. [[Zeppelin]], [[B-29 Superfortress]], [[Tu-22]], [[Dassault Mirage IV]], and the [[B-2 Spirit]]) *[[Cargo aircraft|Cargo transport]] aircraft are used to transport hardware and personnel, such as the [[C-17 Globemaster III]] or [[C-130 Hercules]]. *[[Surveillance aircraft]] are used for [[reconnaissance]] (e.g. [[Rumpler Taube]], [[de Havilland Mosquito]], [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]], and [[MiG-25]]R). *[[Helicopters]] are used for [[assault support]], [[Air freight|cargo transport]] and [[close air support]]. ==Air Traffic Control (ATC)== {{main|Air traffic control}} [[Image:Towers Schiphol small.jpg|right|thumb|[[Air traffic control tower]]s at [[Schiphol Airport]], the [[Netherlands]]]] Air traffic control (ATC) involves communication with aircraft to help maintain ''separation'' &mdash; that is, they ensure that aircraft are sufficiently far enough apart horizontally or vertically for no risk of collision. Controllers may co-ordinate position reports provided by pilots, or in high traffic areas (such as the [[United States]]) they may use [[RADAR]] to see aircraft positions. There are generally four different types of ATC: *centre controllers, who control aircraft enroute between airports *control towers (including tower, ground control, clearance delivery, and other services), which control aircraft within a small distance (typically 10-15 km horizontal, and 1,000 m vertical) of an airport. *oceanic controllers, who control aircraft over international waters between continents, generally without radar service. *terminal controllers, who control aircraft in a wider area (typically 50-80 km) around busy airports. ATC is especially important for aircraft flying under [[Instrument flight rules]] (IFR), where they may be in weather conditions that do not allow the pilots to see other aircraft. However, in very high-traffic areas, especially near major airports, aircraft flying under [[Visual flight rules]] (VFR) are also required to follow instructions from ATC. In addition to separation from other aircraft, ATC may provide weather advisories, terrain separation, navigation assistance, and other services to pilots, depending on their workload. ATC does not control all flights. The majority of VFR flights in North America are not required to talk to ATC (unless they are passing through a busy terminal area or using a major airport), and in many areas, such as northern [[Canada]], ATC services are not available even for IFR flights at lower altitudes. ==Environmental impact== {{main|Aviation and the environment}} Like all activities involving [[combustion]], operating powered aircraft (from [[airliner]]s to hot air balloons) releases [[greenhouse gas]]es such as [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>), [[soot]], and other pollutants into the atmosphere. In addition, there are environmental impacts specific to aviation: [[Image:Contrails.jpg|thumb|Water vapour [[Condensation trails|contrails]] left by high-altitude jet [[airliner]]s. These may contribute to [[cirrus|cirrus cloud]] formation.]] * Aircraft operating at high altitudes near the [[tropopause]] (mainly large [[jet airliner]]s) emit aerosols and leave [[contrail]]s, both of which can increase [[cirrus|cirrus cloud]] formation &mdash; cloud cover may have increased by up to 0.2% since the birth of aviation.<ref>[http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc/aviation/032.htm Aviation and the Global Atmosphere (IPCC)]</ref> * Aircraft operating at high altitudes near the tropopause can also release chemicals that interact with greenhouse gases at those altitudes, particularly [[nitrogen oxide|nitrogen compounds]], which interact with ozone, increasing ozone concentrations.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Lin | first = X. | coauthors = Trainer, M. and Liu, S.C., | title = On the nonlinearity of the tropospheric ozone production. | journal = Journal of Geophysical Research | volume = 93 | pages = 15879–15888 | date = 1988 | doi = 10.1029/JD093iD12p15879 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Grewe | first = V. | coauthors = D. Brunner, M. Dameris, J. L. Grenfell, R. Hein, D. Shindell, J. Staehelin | title = Origin and variability of upper tropospheric nitrogen oxides and ozone at northern mid-latitudes | journal = Atmospheric Environment | volume = 35 | issue = 20 | pages = 3421–3433 | date = July 2001 | url = http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1352231001001340 | doi = 10.1016/S1352-2310(01)00134-0 | accessdate = 2007-11-20 }}</ref> * Most light piston aircraft burn [[avgas]], which contains [[tetra-ethyl lead]] (TEL), a highly-toxic substance that can cause soil contamination at airports. Some lower-compression piston engines can operate on unleaded [[mogas]], and turbine engines and diesel engines &mdash; neither of which requires lead &mdash; are appearing on some newer [[light aircraft]]. ==Notes== <references/> ==See also== {{wikiversity3|School:Aviation|Aviation|The School of Aviation}} {{Wiktionarypar|aviation}} *[[wikt:Appendix:Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terms|Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terms]] *[[List of aviation topics]] *[[Timeline of aviation]] {{Aviation lists}} [[Category:Aviation| ]] [[Category:Transportation]] [[Category:Military occupations]] [[ar:طيران]] [[az:Aviasiya]] [[bs:Avijacija]] [[bg:Авиация]] [[ca:Aviació]] [[cs:Letectví]] [[da:Luftfart]] [[de:Luftfahrt]] [[et:Lennundus]] [[es:Aviación]] [[eo:Aviado]] [[fa:هوانوردی]] [[fr:Aviation]] [[gl:Aviación]] [[hr:Zrakoplovstvo]] [[it:Aviazione]] [[he:תעופה]] [[lt:Aviacija]] [[hu:Légi közlekedés]] [[nl:Luchtvaart]] [[ja:航空]] [[no:Luftfart]] [[pl:Lotnictwo]] [[pt:Aviação]] [[ro:Transport aerian]] [[ru:Авиация]] [[sq:Aeronautika]] [[simple:Aviation]] [[sk:Letectvo]] [[sl:Letalstvo]] [[fi:Ilmailu]] [[sv:Luftfart]] [[vi:Hàng không]] [[tr:Havacılık]] [[uk:Авіація]] [[zh-yue:航空]] [[bat-smg:Aviacėjė]] [[zh:航空]]