What would the progress of aviation be if WWI never happened?

[Willi Von Klugerman]

WWI making a huge impact on the progress of aviation,what would of happened if it didn't happen?What would aviation be today?

[redintheskies]

Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman

WWI making a huge impact on the progress of aviation,what would of happened if it didn't happen?What would aviation be today?

an interesting question. for 1, the development of the "battle in the air" would have been postponed, to say the least. there would be no legends, the men who were there would probably not be known.

these are obvious, of course, but it's a deep question.

[Patrick]

In framing your question, do you assume that WWII did happen? Or that neither WWI nor WWII happened?

[FOKKERJ]

Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman

WWI making a huge impact on the progress of aviation,what would of happened if it didn't happen?What would aviation be today?

Hi Willi,

I've been aware of the great progress made in Aviation during WWI.
I believe we would probably be close to where we are now, but it would have took an awful lot longer to get here.
I know that from my brother's studies on restoring his 1923 Ford Model "T" and my experience with the studies of Vintage American Motocycles, that each year brought new improvements and inovations. The Great War to end all wars just hastened the technological advancement of the aeroplane that much faster. Just look at the planes and their statistics of 1914 and compare them to the aircraft of 1918, especially the later ones that saw little or no action. Even without the advent of wars, people were always racing trains, planes, and automobiles. That alone is enough to spur the technology and to make improvements in relability, speed and safety.

On the '23 "T", the wooden interior pieces were different from the '24, '25, & so on. That's just one example.
My 1932 INDIAN CHIEF was the last year of the T.L.O.S. or total loss oil system. There were 50 new features touted on the '32 models, they were as different as night and day to the 1931 models, but again nothing as new and improved as the '33 model, then the 1935 Chief 74", Scout 45", Four 78"(?) (4 cylinder), 30.50 Pony Scout, and the 45" Sport Scout, with their graceful swept back fenders, were the prettiest of any of the major motorcycle manufacturers in the USA.

As late as 1970, it was easy to distinguish earlier vehicle years just by the look of items such as fenders, body trim, tail lights, head lights, etc..
Most makes made some minor to major changes every year. Since then, I don't bother guessing the year a particular car was made, during the '70's I remember seeing a 1976 Plymouth Roadrunner that looked like any other "Box" with wheels on it!
Definetly not a "Muscle Car" that many of us had the pleasure to own or drive.

I hope this helps you.

Best Wishes, Jay

[Manfred von Richthofen HU]

aviation is not military today and there isnt supersonic fighter!

[Brez]

Good question Willi,
Although it's always said that the World Wars had a huge impact on the progress of aviation, I believe that it's overestimated. If you chart speed and altitude records from the Wright bros. up to the X15 there's no great leap forward for the 14-18/39-45 periods. There were great advances made between 1903 and 1914, eg. Sikorsky's large 4-engined aeroplanes, Curtiss's flying boats and the Deperdussin company's racers. It's clear that these would all have progressed had the Great War never happened. Maybe aeroplanes were more manouverable because of the war, that would only have been desired by "stunt pilots".
In fact sometimes war impedes development,I think the F104 Starfighter would during a war be considered a "dud" (to use a WW1 expression) and I doubt if the X-program would have got off the ground under (world) wartime conditions.
So in answer to your question I would say we'd be about where we are now but with a few more nice old buildings, (unless your counting WW2 as well, then its a lot more nice old buildings - and nice old people). Cheers,
Tony.

[Barrett]

Dr. Richard Hallion's excellent Taking Flight addresses the matter of GW aero progress but my copy's in storage. IIRC, his book on evolution of fighter aircraft identified 4-5 generations of designs, starting with those extant in 1914. Don't quote me, but the war could have advanced aeronautical knowledge/progress as much as 20 years.

Among the most significant wartime developments, not necessarily related to military use, I'd posit the following:

much increased knowledge ref. theory of flight
much improved flight instruction
mass production
all-metal airframes
increasingly powerful/reliable engines
oxygen for hi-altitude ops
aviation physiology

Will get back to you on this matter.

[Brez]

Originally Posted by Barrett

much increased knowledge ref. theory of flight
much improved flight instruction
mass production
all-metal airframes
increasingly powerful/reliable engines
oxygen for hi-altitude ops
aviation physiology

Hi Barrett,
I'd have to agree to the first three, especially mass production - theres no denying that. But all-metal airframes - hadn't Hugo Junkers patented a thick all-metal cantilever aerofoil as early as 1910? O.K. governments may put more money into industry during war aiding progress, but a constant demand for "more of the same" hinders it. Likewise the more powerful/reliable engines, I would argue that the Schneider Trophy pushed that along just as much as a world war. Anyway it's all hypothetical, for the war to have advanced progress 20 years - what does that mean? Lindbergh wouldn't have crossed the Atlantic until 1947? Frank Whittle wouldn't have come up with the jet engine until 1950?

Cheers,
Tony.

[SCMc]

Besides technical development during the war, thousands of pilots and mechanics were trained during the war (and again in part two). Many of these went on to careers in civil aviation, whether as barnstormers, or airline pilots, mechanics, or owners. They stimulated public interest in aviation and provided a market for the aircraft industry. I have to think this had an effect on the continued development of aviation technology.

Steve

[Brez]

Originally Posted by SCMc

Besides technical development during the war, thousands of pilots and mechanics were trained during the war (and again in part two). Many of these went on to careers in civil aviation, whether as barnstormers, or airline pilots, mechanics, or owners. They stimulated public interest in aviation and provided a market for the aircraft industry. I have to think this had an effect on the continued development of aviation technology.

Steve

True, and there were many others, like my father-in-law who was a fighter pilot in the FFA, who never went near an aeroplane again . I just think that aviation back in 1914 was so new, so exciting that it had a momentum all of it's own.