Why These Planes Changed Aviation Forever

Episode 4 of 5



The 20th century saw the birth of manned flight and while there a number of planes developed during this time, these pushed the envelope.

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Previous Episode:

How Do We Keep Track Of All The Airplanes In Flight?: ??

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Sources:

Aircraft That Changed The World:

"World changers. It's almost easier to explain what we don't mean by that phrase than to define what we do. We have not compiled a list of trailblazers, like the de Havilland Comet, the world's first jetliner."

Rimowa Reprises An Aviation Classic, The Junkers F13:

"Flying and suitcases go hand in hand, so it makes sense that the German luxury luggage brand Rimowa has added an airplane to its arsenal of goods."

Ryan NYP "Spirit Of St. Louis":

"On May 21, 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history, flying his Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" 5,810 kilometers (3,610 miles) between Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, and Paris, France, in 33 hours, 30 minutes."

The 30 Most Important Airplanes Of All Time:

"While by no means definitive, the following list of flying machines is what we consider, after many grueling hours of debate, to be the most important airplanes in the course of history."

If You Thought Air Travel Was Luxurious In The 1970s, Check Out What It Was Like Aboard The WW2-Era Boeing Clipper:

"For most travelers in the 21st century, flying is a dreary experience, full of inconvenience, indignity, and discomfort."

The World's Greatest Aviation Innovations:

"It seems all news is bad news when it comes to aviation these days, and it's too bad because it overshadows just how wonderful it is that we can fly."

Breaking the Sound Barrier | The Greatest Moments in Flight:

"A booming thunder roared across the clear skies of the Mojave Desert on Oct. 14, 1947, as U.S. Air Force Capt. Chuck Yeager nudged an experimental rocket-powered plane faster than the speed of sound."

Bell X-1:

"On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. Piloted by U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, the X-1 reached a speed of 1,127 kilometers (700 miles) per hour, Mach 1.06, at an altitude of 13,000 meters (43,000 feet). Yeager named the airplane "Glamorous Glennis" in tribute to his wife."

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TestTube Plus is built for enthusiastic science fans seeking out comprehensive conversations on the geeky topics they love. Host Trace Dominguez digs beyond the usual scope to deliver details, developments and opinions on advanced topics like AI, string theory and Mars exploration. TestTube Plus is also offered as an audio podcast on iTunes.

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[alxmampilly]

come on man atleast show aome pics of the planes

[JohnJohnsonIowa]

Wish you would have shown photos of the planes you were describing.

[TuesdayNightTaped]

LOL the J in Junkers is pronounced as a Y. Also worth mentioning is that the winglets reduced wingtip vortices (kind of like a mini-tornado coming off the wingtips). They cause drag, just a little fun fact I thought I'd add!

[Valkraz]

I really enjoy Test Tube plus! However, I think it would be much more beneficial to people like myself, if you were to show some pictures or text or something. There would still be the option to just listen, but I retain information a lot easier with a few visuals. I understand trying to not be too much like other similar channels, but the detail you go into in this channel far exceeds any of the others I watch. SciShow is a very good example of what I mean by visuals! I hope you get the chance to read this comment, and I appreciate your time! Keep up the amazing Science News and Videos! Love you guys!

[Kneedragon]

Favourite aeroplane, yes. Supermarine Spitfire, circa Autumn 1940. The Hurricane did a lot of the work, but a Hurricane was no match for a 109. That's what you need a Spitfire for. The world we know hung on WW2, and WW2 hung on the Battle of Britain, and that hung on the Spitfire taking on the 109s and letting the Hurricanes deal with the bombers. The world we know today hung on the work and the courage of a couple of hundred young Brits, and the most beautiful machine ever made. Yes, the Mustang was important, and the F-15 is an incredibly successful fighter, but "Never in the field of human conflict" doesn't hang on either of those. The most beautiful machine ever made, also saved the world.

[GoranXII]

Bleriot IX (1909) - first aircraft to cross the English Channel.
Ilya Muromets (1914) - first 4-engined aircraft to fly. Also the first aircraft to include amenities, f.e., a toilet and cabin heating.
Vickers Vimy (1919) - the first aircraft capable (in a heavily modified form) of crossing the Atlantic.
Gloster E.28/39, Heinkel He 178 - the first jet aircraft.
(The Bell X1 didn't take off on its own, so doesn't count)
De Havilland Comet - the first jet airliner.
Concorde - the first supersonic airliner.

[will]

William summervill was the first person to put winglets on an aircraft back in 1910

[will]

B29 was not even close to singlehandedly winning the war against Japan

[PrestonSmithsMusic]

Avro Arrow was my favorite. You never mentioned fly-by-wire (unless I missed it). That did change everything.

[linusorm]

Why no mention of the ME-262? the first combat used jet aircraft (1944-45)

or the Gloster Meteor, british jet fighter which flew two weeks after the 262.

or no mention of the actual inventor of the jet engine.

[Hoigwai]

My favorite plane is the P-38 Lightning, followed by the P-51. Ever since I was a kid, always found them to be amazing and inspired in design. As for jets, the Blackbird was the stuff of legends. 8)

[stevenkurinec]

To elaborate on the winglet impact to efficiency. They do two things to benefit fixed wing aircraft. First, the reduce the wingtip vortices generated as the wing travels through the air. This is basically the higher pressure air from beneath the wing circling above it at the edge of the wing instead of continuing below. Additionally, winglets increase the aspect ratio of the wing by indirectly extending the span. Both of these things reduce the amount of induced drag created by the wing and consequently increasing the lift to drag ratio, which directly relates to efficiency.

[mithun]

Hi Trace, first nice job with all those videos. I love these videos and I learn a lot from it. But there's one thing I would love if you guys could do that, I would love if you guys could show pictures about the things you are talking about while talking about it. Such as how some of those plans you talked about. I am a visual learner, so I would love if I get to see how something look without me having to go search how something looks. Thank you so much everything!!

[matthewsugandhi]

I recommend reading "747: Creating the World's First Jumbo Je and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation". Its a biography from Joe Sutter who was the lead engineer for the first Boeing 747.Furthermore, you definitely should fly the 787. I did last Summer and I love it!!!

[LiamPattisonPhotography]

What was with the 3 day delay between episodes?

[philtripe]

the 747 is actually larger than what most of us fly in. the only plane thats larger really is the airbus which isnt any longer but has a wider body and wing span so the 747 is a very large aircraft

[markholm]

The B-29's postwar new engines were largely developed because the wartime engines were notoriously unreliable and prone to engine fires that would burn through the wing.

[Pyskiper]

It would be nice to have some Pictures to go along with :)

[JAnthony]

I love the educational bit, but what about a few visual aids. Nothing cartoon or too crazy, just pictures of what your talking about at the time in the lower left or right corner.

[harrisonspexarth]

You really need to have pictures of what you are talking about in this show.