Knowledge (XXG)

Aviation between the World Wars

Source 📝

162: 227: 119: 530: 299: 410: 22: 249:
This period marked the great age of the airship. Before the First World War, pioneers such as the German Zeppelin company had begun passenger services, but the airships constructed in the years following were altogether larger and more famous. Large airships were also experimented with for military
429:. The ability to handle the high mechanical stresses imposed by this advanced form of airframe design philosophy suited the all-metal aircraft construction techniques pioneered by some earlier designers, and the increasing availability of high strength-to-weight aluminum alloys — first used by 346:
in its hangar. Although successful, the idea was not taken further. By the time the Navy started to develop a sound doctrine for using these airships, both had been lost in accidents. More significantly, the seaplane had become more mature and was considered a better investment.
150:, creating a revolution in both commercial and military aviation. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 the biplane was all but obsolete. This revolution was made possible by the continuing development of lightweight 481:
The Comet was powered by two race-tuned but otherwise standard production de Havilland Gipsy Six engines with a combined output of 460 hp (344 kW). This compares for example on the one hand to
250:
purposes, notably the American construction of two airborne aircraft carriers, but their large size made them vulnerable and the idea was dropped. This period also saw the introduction of non-flammable
478:. Unusually for such a highly stressed wing at that time it was still made of wood, with the thin stressed-skin design made possible by the appearance of new high-strength synthetic resin adhesives. 466:
racer of 1934 was one of the first designs to incorporate all the features of the modern fast monoplane, including; stressed-skin construction, a thin, clean, low-drag cantilever wing, retractable
386:, which was stored in large gas bags below the hydrogen cells. Since its density was similar to that of air, it avoided any weight change as fuel was used, and thus the need to vent hydrogen. The 453:
likewise used the Junkers firm's techniques for all-metal aircraft construction, his designs ranged in size to the enormous, 63 meter (206 ft) wingspan eight-engined Soviet
181:
displays. Many commercial airlines were started during this period. Long-distance flights for the luxury traveller became possible for the first time; the early services used
161: 39: 623:
in 1918 — that the low-wing monoplane began to gain favour, reaching its classic form in such designs. These were pioneered in late 1933 by the Soviet Union with the
841: 421:
During the late 1920s and early 1930s the available power from aero engines increased significantly, making possible the adoption of the fast cantilever-wing
376:
was intended to stimulate interest in passenger airships, and was the largest airship that could be built in the company's existing shed. Its engines ran on
941: 513:. The two men were unaware of the other's work, and both Germany and Britain would go on to develop jet aircraft by the end of World War II. In Hungary, 242:
A number of nations operated airships between the two world wars, including Britain, the United States, Germany, Italy, France, the Soviet Union and
165:"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, as temporarily arranged by the Air Ministry for civilian flying", published in 1919, showing 556:
Many of these new routes had few facilities such as modern runways, and this era also became the age of the great flying boats such as the German
605:
In military aviation, the fast all-metal monoplane emerged slowly. During the 1920s the high-wing parasol monoplane vied with the traditional
86: 719: 58: 937: 226: 65: 990: 958: 354:, then the tallest building in the world, was completed in 1931 with a dirigible mast, in anticipation of passenger airship service. 834: 739: 105: 597:
to meet the new demand. Sailplanes continued to evolve through the 1930s and sport gliding became the main application of gliders.
72: 1009: 925: 357:
The most famous airships today are the passenger-carrying rigid airships made by the German Zeppelin company, especially the
43: 586: 54: 978: 613:
in 1932 — nearly fifteen years after the first low-wing fighter to enter limited military service, the all-metal airframe
326:
many years before, the Americans built hangars into two new airships and even designed specialist airplanes for them. The
118: 295:
was the first to use helium, which was in such short supply that the one airship contained most of the world's reserves.
915: 827: 963: 894: 869: 505:
patented a design for a jet engine in 1930 and towards the end of the decade began developing an engine. In Germany
258:
continued to be used since the United States had the only sources of the gas at that time, and would not export it.
32: 319: 651:
common in the First World War quickly fell out of favour, being replaced by more powerful stationary air-cooled
529: 177:
became widespread and many daring and dramatic feats took place such as round-the-world flights, air races and
1014: 884: 463: 311: 79: 932: 910: 874: 538: 437:
for his all-metal airframe designs — made it practical, allowing the earliest all-metal airliners like the
610: 442: 639:
of 1936 were also flying, powered by new and powerful liquid-cooled vee-twelve engines respectively from
920: 864: 351: 285: 575:
and other aerobatic displays which produced a corps of skilled pilots who would contribute to military
636: 632: 514: 471: 365: 359: 209: 205: 850: 644: 619: 186: 131: 393:
Airship operations suffered a series of highly publicised fatal accidents, notably to the British
590: 582: 491: 166: 631:
nine-cylinder radial engine. Within only a few years after the I-16's first flights, the German
537:
Many aviation firsts occurred during this period. Long-distance flights by pioneers such as Sir
401:
in 1937. Following the Hindenburg disaster, the age of the great airships was effectively over.
889: 735: 715: 656: 546: 398: 334: 303: 542: 343: 298: 624: 340: 273: 235: 201: 506: 454: 450: 268: 174: 158:
also began development during the 1930s but would not see operational use until later.
1003: 973: 683:
A History in the Making: 80 Turbulent Years in the American General Aviation Industry
652: 648: 628: 561: 510: 502: 438: 263: 640: 572: 565: 557: 487: 467: 446: 430: 197: 178: 139: 712:
The Airships Akron & Macon: flying aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
409: 792: 614: 550: 426: 190: 151: 135: 21: 142:(1939) was characterised by a progressive change from the slow wood-and-fabric 498: 278: 155: 594: 576: 518: 434: 422: 327: 147: 483: 378: 322:. Whereas the British had experimented with an aircraft "trapeze" on the 255: 968: 606: 475: 383: 339:
were the world's largest airships at the time, with each carrying four
221: 182: 143: 819: 251: 765:
Spitfire: Classic aircraft No.1, their history and how to model them
417:, the largest fixed-wing aircraft built anywhere before World War II 494:
C development engine which powered the prototype Spitfire in 1936.
509:
patented his version of a jet engine in 1936 and began developing
408: 297: 243: 225: 160: 196:
In military aviation, the fast all-metal monoplane equipped with
394: 254:
as a lifting gas by the United States, while the more dangerous
823: 390:
became the first aircraft to fly all the way around the world.
122:
The areas of the world covered by commercial air routes in 1925
15: 568:, which could operate from any stretch of clear, calm water. 553:
blazed a trail which new commercial airlines soon followed.
200:— first placed into production by the Soviet Union with the 533:
Long distance flights and records as of 1925 by nationality
459:, the largest aircraft built anywhere before World War II. 204:
of 1934 — emerged in such classic designs as the German
212:, which would go on to see service in the coming war. 490:
all-metal monoplane of 1918 and to the 1,172 hp
951: 903: 857: 318:The US Navy explored the idea of using airships as 46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 797:Wings over America: The Story of American Aviation 579:during World War II on all sides of the conflict. 445:, and Junkers' own pioneering airliners like the 277:was the first aircraft confirmed to fly over the 714:, Annapolis MD, US Naval Institute Press, 1965, 609:. It was not until the arrival of the American 776:Green, W. and Swanborough, G.; "Plane Facts", 835: 449:to be built and accepted into service. When 8: 627:fighter, powered initially with an American 585:flourished, particularly in Germany through 501:began in Germany and in England. In England 284:The first American-built rigid airship, the 271:and in 1926 the Italian semi-rigid airship, 754:, 1st Edition, Blackie, ca. 1949, Page 232. 842: 828: 820: 146:of World War I to fast, streamlined metal 106:Learn how and when to remove this message 528: 517:began construction of the world's first 117: 799:, Halcyon House, Garden City, New York. 673: 425:, originally pioneered as far back as 7: 44:adding citations to reliable sources 571:This period also saw the growth of 189:, airships fell out of use and the 959:Claims to the first powered flight 14: 55:"Aviation between the World Wars" 497:In the 1930s development of the 470:, landing flaps, variable-pitch 20: 763:Cross, R. and Scarborough, G.; 31:needs additional citations for 734:, New York, Henry Hold, 2001, 267:flew a double crossing of the 1: 617:had entered service with the 484:the single 180 hp engine 698:Early Aviation in Long Beach 261:In 1919 the British airship 138:(1918) and the beginning of 964:Air warfare of World War II 732:Dr. Eckener's Dream Machine 1031: 767:, Patrick Stephens (1971). 320:airborne aircraft carriers 219: 991:Aviation timelines navbox 987: 814:Aviation: The early years 752:Flight today and tomorrow 169:, near London, as the hub 154:of increasing power. The 938:Unmanned aerial vehicles 816:, Ullmann, 2013 edition. 635:of 1935 and the British 464:de Havilland DH.88 Comet 198:retractable landing gear 539:Charles Kingsford Smith 397:in 1930 and the German 880:Between the World Wars 783:No. 1 (1971), Page 53. 611:Boeing P-26 Peashooter 534: 418: 315: 239: 170: 128:Golden Age of Aviation 123: 1010:20th-century aviation 865:Early flying machines 532: 413:The Tupolev-designed 412: 405:Aeronautical advances 352:Empire State Building 301: 229: 164: 126:Sometimes dubbed the 121: 681:Donald M. Pattillo. 637:Supermarine Spitfire 633:Messerschmitt Bf 109 583:Recreational gliding 291:, flew in 1923. The 210:Supermarine Spitfire 206:Messerschmitt Bf 109 130:, the period in the 40:improve this article 851:History of aviation 593:manufactured sport 187:Hindenburg disaster 173:During this period 134:between the end of 132:history of aviation 807:General references 730:Botting, Douglas, 710:Smith, Richard K. 591:Schweizer brothers 589:. In the US, the 535: 492:Rolls-Royce Merlin 419: 369:of the year 1936. 316: 240: 193:came to dominate. 171: 124: 997: 996: 979:Women in aviation 916:Aviation medicine 890:Post-World War II 720:978-0-87021-065-5 696:Gerrie Schipske. 657:Pratt and Whitney 601:Military aviation 547:Charles Lindbergh 515:György Jendrassik 185:, but, after the 116: 115: 108: 90: 1022: 844: 837: 830: 821: 800: 790: 784: 774: 768: 761: 755: 748: 742: 728: 722: 708: 702: 701: 693: 687: 686: 678: 668:Inline citations 620:Luftstreitkräfte 543:Alcock and Brown 511:a similar engine 363:of 1928 and the 302:US Navy airship 208:and the British 111: 104: 100: 97: 91: 89: 48: 24: 16: 1030: 1029: 1025: 1024: 1023: 1021: 1020: 1019: 1015:Interwar period 1000: 999: 998: 993: 983: 947: 904:Topic histories 899: 853: 848: 809: 804: 803: 791: 787: 775: 771: 762: 758: 749: 745: 729: 725: 709: 705: 695: 694: 690: 680: 679: 675: 670: 665: 625:Polikarpov I-16 603: 527: 407: 341:F9C Sparrowhawk 236:Lower Manhattan 224: 218: 202:Polikarpov I-16 112: 101: 95: 92: 49: 47: 37: 25: 12: 11: 5: 1028: 1026: 1018: 1017: 1012: 1002: 1001: 995: 994: 988: 985: 984: 982: 981: 976: 971: 966: 961: 955: 953: 949: 948: 946: 945: 935: 930: 929: 928: 918: 913: 907: 905: 901: 900: 898: 897: 892: 887: 882: 877: 872: 867: 861: 859: 855: 854: 849: 847: 846: 839: 832: 824: 818: 817: 808: 805: 802: 801: 785: 778:Air Enthusiast 769: 756: 750:Winter, H.T.; 743: 723: 703: 688: 672: 671: 669: 666: 664: 661: 653:radial engines 649:rotary engines 629:Wright Cyclone 602: 599: 587:Rhön-Rossitten 526: 525:Civil aviation 523: 507:Hans von Ohain 486:fitted to the 451:Andrei Tupolev 433:in 1916-17 as 406: 403: 220:Main article: 217: 214: 175:civil aviation 114: 113: 28: 26: 19: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1027: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1007: 1005: 992: 986: 980: 977: 975: 974:Mars aircraft 972: 970: 967: 965: 962: 960: 957: 956: 954: 950: 943: 939: 936: 934: 931: 927: 924: 923: 922: 919: 917: 914: 912: 909: 908: 906: 902: 896: 893: 891: 888: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 871: 868: 866: 863: 862: 860: 858:Chronological 856: 852: 845: 840: 838: 833: 831: 826: 825: 822: 815: 811: 810: 806: 798: 794: 789: 786: 782: 779: 773: 770: 766: 760: 757: 753: 747: 744: 741: 740:0-8050-6458-3 737: 733: 727: 724: 721: 717: 713: 707: 704: 699: 692: 689: 685:. p. xi. 684: 677: 674: 667: 662: 660: 659:Wasp series. 658: 654: 650: 646: 642: 638: 634: 630: 626: 622: 621: 616: 612: 608: 600: 598: 596: 592: 588: 584: 580: 578: 574: 569: 567: 563: 562:Sikorsky S-42 559: 554: 552: 548: 544: 540: 531: 524: 522: 520: 516: 512: 508: 504: 503:Frank Whittle 500: 495: 493: 489: 485: 479: 477: 474:and enclosed 473: 469: 468:undercarriage 465: 460: 458: 457: 452: 448: 444: 443:William Stout 440: 439:Ford Trimotor 436: 432: 428: 424: 416: 411: 404: 402: 400: 396: 391: 389: 388:Graf Zeppelin 385: 382:, similar to 381: 380: 375: 374:Graf Zeppelin 370: 368: 367: 362: 361: 360:Graf Zeppelin 355: 353: 348: 345: 342: 338: 337: 332: 331: 325: 321: 313: 312:Moffett Field 309: 308: (ZRS-5) 307: 300: 296: 294: 290: 289: 282: 280: 276: 275: 270: 266: 265: 259: 257: 253: 247: 245: 237: 233: 228: 223: 215: 213: 211: 207: 203: 199: 194: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 168: 163: 159: 157: 153: 149: 145: 141: 137: 133: 129: 120: 110: 107: 99: 96:December 2009 88: 85: 81: 78: 74: 71: 67: 64: 60: 57: –  56: 52: 51:Find sources: 45: 41: 35: 34: 29:This article 27: 23: 18: 17: 952:Other topics 933:Hang gliding 911:Aerodynamics 885:World War II 879: 813: 812:Almond, P.; 796: 788: 780: 777: 772: 764: 759: 751: 746: 731: 726: 711: 706: 700:. p. 8. 697: 691: 682: 676: 655:such as the 641:Daimler-Benz 618: 604: 581: 573:barnstorming 570: 566:Short Empire 564:and British 558:Dornier Do X 555: 536: 496: 488:Junkers CL.I 480: 461: 456:Maksim Gorki 455: 447:Junkers F.13 441:designed by 431:Hugo Junkers 420: 415:Maksim Gorky 414: 392: 387: 377: 373: 371: 364: 358: 356: 349: 335: 329: 323: 317: 305: 292: 287: 283: 272: 262: 260: 248: 241: 231: 195: 179:barnstorming 172: 152:aero engines 140:World War II 127: 125: 102: 93: 83: 76: 69: 62: 50: 38:Please help 33:verification 30: 895:Digital Age 875:World War I 870:Pioneer era 793:Harry Bruno 645:Rolls-Royce 615:Junkers D.I 560:, American 551:Amy Johnson 191:flying boat 136:World War I 1004:Categories 989:See also: 921:Ballooning 663:References 595:sailplanes 577:air forces 499:jet engine 399:Hindenburg 366:Hindenburg 293:Shenandoah 288:Shenandoah 279:North Pole 238:circa 1932 156:jet engine 148:monoplanes 66:newspapers 519:turboprop 472:propeller 435:duralumin 427:late 1915 423:monoplane 328:USS  304:USS  286:USS  926:military 521:engine. 379:blau gas 344:fighters 269:Atlantic 256:hydrogen 216:Airships 183:airships 167:Hounslow 144:biplanes 969:Jet Age 940: ( 795:(1944) 607:biplane 476:cockpit 384:propane 314:in 1933 222:Airship 80:scholar 942:combat 781:Vol. 1 738:  718:  647:. The 252:helium 82:  75:  68:  61:  53:  336:Macon 330:Akron 310:over 306:Macon 274:Norge 244:Japan 234:over 232:Akron 87:JSTOR 73:books 736:ISBN 716:ISBN 643:and 549:and 462:The 395:R101 372:The 350:The 333:and 230:USS 59:news 324:R33 264:R34 42:by 1006:: 545:, 541:, 281:. 246:. 944:) 843:e 836:t 829:v 109:) 103:( 98:) 94:( 84:· 77:· 70:· 63:· 36:.

Index


verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Aviation between the World Wars"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message

history of aviation
World War I
World War II
biplanes
monoplanes
aero engines
jet engine

Hounslow
civil aviation
barnstorming
airships
Hindenburg disaster
flying boat
retractable landing gear
Polikarpov I-16
Messerschmitt Bf 109
Supermarine Spitfire

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.