History of Aviation - Lecture Notes Flashcards

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering key milestones, figures, technologies, and regulatory developments in the history of aviation.

Around 400 BCE, which ancient figure reportedly built a steam-powered wooden pigeon that could fly?

Archytas

Which Renaissance thinker sketched designs for flying machines based on bird anatomy?

Leonardo da Vinci

In 1783, what event marked the first manned flight in a hot-air balloon?

Montgolfier brothers' first manned hot-air balloon flight (1783)

Who laid the foundations of modern aerodynamics in the early 1800s and tested gliders demonstrating lift, drag, and thrust?

Sir George Cayley

What date marks the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft, and which aircraft achieved it?

December 17, 1903; Wright Flyer

Which two World Wars significantly accelerated aviation development?

World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945)

Name two iconic WWII aircraft mentioned in the notes.

Spitfire and B-29 Superfortress

What was the first operational jet aircraft?

Messerschmitt Me 262

Who broke the sound barrier in 1947, opening the era of supersonic flight, and with which aircraft?

Chuck Yeager; Bell X-1

Which jet airliner introduced in 1958 helped popularize commercial jet travel?

Boeing 707

Which aircraft enabled commercial supersonic passenger travel in the 1970s?

Concorde

What organization was created by the Chicago Convention to promote safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation?

ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)

Which 1919 convention established sovereignty over national airspace and aircraft registration?

Convention Relating to the Regulation of Aerial Navigation

Which major 1944 treaty established international aviation law foundations and created ICAO?

Chicago Convention (1944)

Name the U.S. regulatory agency responsible for civil aviation.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Which European agency ensures uniform aviation safety standards across EU member states?

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

How did aviation security regulations change after major events like 9/11?

They became stricter, with enhanced passenger screening and identification requirements

What is one major impact of aviation on transportation and globalization?

Significantly reduced travel time between continents, linking cities and boosting tourism and international business

How does aviation contribute to economic development?

Creates millions of jobs; supports global commerce; airports act as economic hubs

What is aviation’s role in military and defense?

Air power as a decisive factor; surveillance, bombing, and air-to-air combat

What are the cultural and social impacts of aviation?

Facilitates cultural exchange, humanitarian missions, and rapid disaster relief

What environmental challenges does aviation face and what technologies are being pursued?

Emissions and climate impact; pursuing electric/hydrogen power, sustainable fuels, and greener tech

What space-related expansion has aviation recently experienced?

Expansion into space exploration with commercial space ventures

What did the Wright brothers’ Flyer introduce in terms of aircraft control and propulsion?

Propeller-driven engine and a three-axis control system

How did aircraft materials evolve from early to mid-20th century?

From wooden frames and fabric coverings to aluminum, with later composites

Which postwar aircraft helped enable long-distance jet travel in the 1950s?

Boeing 707

What was significant about the Boeing 747 when it was introduced in 1969?

First wide-body 'jumbo jet', increasing capacity and reducing costs

What is fly-by-wire technology?

Systems that replace manual controls with electronic signals for precision and safety

Who was Alberto Santos-Dumont and what did he contribute?

Brazilian aviator who flew heavier-than-air aircraft in Europe in 1906

Who pioneered multi-engine airplanes and later developed the first practical helicopter?

Igor Sikorsky

Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and in what year?

Amelia Earhart, 1932

Who completed the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic in 1927?

Charles Lindbergh (Spirit of St. Louis)