| Since the days of the Wright Brothers, man's | | | | order to protect against this. Aluminum alloys and |
| fascination with flying has brought on many changes | | | | new metals like titanium and molybdenum were used |
| due to increased technology and necessity. | | | | for the extra strength as well as for thermal |
| Construction of new materials has been developed | | | | resistance. Speeds increased to Mach 3, so |
| and still new changes are being sought. Let's look at | | | | techniques to avoid the effects of heat caused by |
| some of the changes. | | | | aerodynamics were introduced. Advanced alloys use |
| In the early years of aviation, planes were made of | | | | carbon, silicon carbide, ceramics, titanium as well as |
| fabric and low weight wood, due to their availability. | | | | aluminum. |
| Wire, struts and braces were used for structural | | | | The new high quality aluminum is stronger than the |
| strength. The fabric was a closely weaved fabric like | | | | carbon fiber reinforce plastic that has been used in |
| linen. As the travel speeds increased, so did the need | | | | aircraft wings and can reduce weight up to another |
| for better, stronger materials in aircraft construction. | | | | 20 percent. Aircraft wings built with this special |
| Laminated wood and monocoque construction were | | | | aluminum fiber combination can protect them against |
| first used in the 1930's. Monocoque is a construction | | | | metal fatigue. This material can be a contribution to |
| technique that supports structural load by using an | | | | making energy efficient aircrafts. It could provide a |
| object's external skin. When aircraft were made of | | | | reduced maintenance and fuel cost of billions of |
| fabric, they were hard to maintain since they | | | | dollars. |
| deteriorated when left outside, due to the elements. | | | | The new aluminum materials allow for the possibility |
| So metal began to be used for aircraft. There were | | | | of carefree structures. Carefree, meaning less |
| problems with metal too. | | | | sensitivity to fatigue, hail, and corrosion, resulting in |
| In 1919 to 1934 they began the construction of all | | | | much lower maintenance cost. |
| metal planes with aluminum surfaces and others used | | | | We've come a long way since that first airplane. As, |
| a construction of metal monocoque. As | | | | we continue to develop ways to travel faster and |
| manufacturing skills got better, building lighter planes | | | | further, let's hope the new developments continue to |
| became easier. However, metal corrodes and is | | | | include ways to remain cost and environmentally |
| subject to fatigue. New procedures were needed in | | | | efficient. |