"Century
of Flight" - Program
12, Episode 302
On
The Runway
 Not
long after the first flight
at Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers,
and many other inventors began
trying to find ways to make
aircraft better. In
a relatively short amount of
time aircraft went from canvas
and wood structures with very
weak engines, to metal structures
with very powerful engines.
With each new innovation propeller
driven aircraft became stronger,
safer, and much more efficient.
The next great revolution in
aircraft design came with the
development of the jet engine.
It enabled aircraft to fly farther
and faster than propeller driven
aircraft while improving safety
and efficiency. However,
since the beginning of the
jet age, technology innovations
in aircraft have been more
incremental than revolutionary.
Small steps forward have continued
to make flying safer and better,
but what will be the next great
revolution in air travel.
To help answer this question
NASA researchers are working
on new designs that could change
air travel once again. New
aircraft shapes, cleaner burning
fuels, and new materials could
be the first steps in the next
revolution of aircraft design.
Additional Information
http://avst.larc.nasa.gov |
