American Culture Takes Flight Wilbur Wright once said, “The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who... looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space... on the infinite highway of the air.” He changed American culture forever when he made the first flight alongside his brother Orville. This invention would have an even greater impact on our culture than cars. Although cars are used every day in America, planes have had the largest impact on American culture. Without planes, our lives would be drastically different, but not in a good way. Airplanes had a major impact on military, commerce, and travel. Planes have developed immensely through the years. The Wright brothers developed the first plane in 1903. …show more content…
It had one engine that delivered 14 horsepower. The idea of light didn’t even seem possible to Wilbur Wright in the 1890s. He said, “I confess that in 90 I said to my brother Orville that man would not fly for fifty years.” No one knew what was soon to come. This new invention, that only flew 120 feet the first time, would later change the world. (“Social History”) Now planes are capable of delivering up to 46,000 horsepower through multiple engines. Twenty years after the Wright brothers’ first attempt, planes were able to not only fly passengers, but they could also fly from coast to coast. (“Social History”) This led to major changes in American culture. People could now fly across the country in a day instead of taking weeks to drive the same distance. This faster travel would soon expand to travel between continents. People would be able to fly to Europe instead of spending weeks on a passenger ship. Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly an airplane solo across the atlantic ocean. (“Social History”) With this capability, the United States would soon be able to travel the world faster. Planes have also had a major impact on our military. One example of how planes impact the United States military is World War II. On August 5, 1945 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The plane that dropped the atomic bomb was called Enola Gay. According to the article “Aircraft that Changed the World”, the Enola Gay was carrying 20,000 pounds worth of bombs. (Editors) If it wasn’t for planes, World War II could have been drawn out a lot longer in Japan. This could have cause a different outcome in the war. Also, planes had an impact on the Cold War. During this time Berlin was divided between nations. Communist Russia wanted to keep people in their section so they built a wall. This wall didn't allow anyone in or out. The United States needed to deliver food and building supplies to the people on the other side of the wall, but they weren’t allowed in. Their solution was to create the Berlin Airlift. It was created to fly the necessary supplies to the people living on the other side of the wall. According to an article called “Berlin Airlift - Facts and Figures”, the Berlin Airlift had a total of 277,804 flights. (“Berlin Airlift”) The United States used planes to help rebuild this part of Germany that was partially destroyed because of World War II. In addition to delivering supplies to the other side, about 68,000 people were flown out of the communist side of Berlin. Although World War II and the Cold War were times that planes had the largest impact on the military, planes were also used in World War I. This war consisted of mostly trench warfare. Countries would fight for days to win over just 300 yards of trench. This made it very difficult to get behind enemy lines to investigate. The article “Aircraft in World War 1: A New Way of War” states that in World War I, planes were used to take pictures behind enemy lines. (Robert) This allowed the United States military to know what other countries were planning. Without these crucial victories, the United States would be very different. Our government could have fallen to Nazi or Japanese power. The airplane has helped the United States’ military protect our borders which has helped us keep our way of life. Planes have also had a major impact on commerce.
The invention of planes would later allow easier trade and delivery around the country. In an article by Annamarie Edelen, she states that in 1917 the United States started transporting mail by plane. (Edelen) This made transportation much easier from coast to coast. In addition to this, when mail started being delivered by plane, businesses were then able to receive and ship their products faster. Because things were now being shipped by air, shipment times were greatly reduced. In the same article, Edelen also states that in 1917 planes transporting mail saved 22 hours in delivery from one coast to the other. (Edelen) This is a major improvement from automobiles and trains. Planes also had a major impact on international trade. In an article called “Why Planes Are Taking Over Global Trade”, Tim Fernholz said “about one-third of US imports by value entered the country on a plane.” (Fernholz) This number is still rising. He also stated that from 1965 to 2004 air cargo grew about 2.6 times faster than ocean cargo. (Fernholz) International transportation using planes is growing faster than any other method. This is because of the time it takes for the product to be shipped. The invention of the plane has decreased the time it takes for people to buy and trade items. This aspect has impacted American culture more than …show more content…
cars. One of the major issues with planes is their cost.
Many people will not fly because driving is cheaper. Although this is sometimes true, in an article called “Social History :Air Travel: Its Impact on the Way We Live and the Way See Ourselves” it says that in the 1970s and 1980s flights started to drop in price making it affordable for the average person. (“Social History”) After this, planes were not just for the wealthy upper class, but they were affordable for the middle class as well. Before the price of plane tickets dropped in the 1970s, not as many people flew in planes. Although it is true that the number increased tremendously after the price drop, according to “Aviation 1903-1934”, in the 1930s forty-three different airlines were flying around 350,000 passengers annually. (Edelen) Some people might say that cars have had the larger impact on American culture because people started to commute to work every day. Although this is true, planes have also had an impact on jobs. People were now able to travel on a business trip and return in a fraction of the amount of time it would take to drive. (“Social History”) This had an impact in two ways. People were now able to expand businesses even more and they were able to spend more time at home. Planes have had the largest impact on American culture because of their use in military, commerce, and travel. Without this invention, our everyday lives would be different. Planes have protected the United States from foreign countries.
They have also changed our commerce. Finally, planes have changed the way we travel and explore. Although cars have also changed American culture, planes have had the largest impact, and they will continue to change the way we live.
"The Wright Brothers | The Aerial Age Begins." National Air and Space Museum |, Alcoa, airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/age/. Accessed 30 Nov. 2016.
The roots of today’s aviation regulations extend back to December 17, 1903 when the Wright Brothers first took to the skies in North Carolina. The Wright Brothers set the stage for aviation regulation. After World War I returning pilots bought some surplus war airplanes and went into business. These pilots were known as the barnstormers. These barnstormers performed acrobatic shows and gave local people rides. During this period of time the public perception of the aviation industry was that of a daredevil or reckless. Aviation took off very slowly because it was too expensive for most consumers. Primarily the wealthy were able to take trips to the East Coast. Uses of aviation included advertising, aerial photography, crop dusting and carrying illegal shipments of alcohol during the prohibition.
Charles Lindbergh's extraordinary success catapulted the curiosity of millions of Americans about air travel. On the front page of The New York Times, Edwin L. James also wrote: “harbor craft, factories, fire sirens, and radio carry messages of the flier's victory throughout the city-Theaters halt while audiences cheer.” All Americans were awakened with the victorious news and with what it would mean to the world. After this significant day in history, thanks to Charles Lindbergh, nothing will ever be the same in the world of aviation. This man, an “American Idol” forever changed the way people viewed flight, impacted companies, the country, and even the world as a whole with his talent, intelligence, and bravery.
World War One was known as the war that would end all wars. At first, airplanes in the war were thought to have just little combat use. An unknown British general even commented, " The airplane is useless for the purpose of war." In the beginning of the First World War, the airplanes were pretty simple and raw. By the end of the war, aircraft had become more advanced and had split off into fighters, bombers and long-range bombers. The specifications of the airplanes were changed to meet the war's requirements. When the War started in August of 1914, British airmen were associated with the British army and their commissioned officers had army ranks. Before the United State’s declaration of war in 1917, American nationals had enlisted in British and French air services including the Lafayette Escadrille. By the time the war ended in November of 1918, the Royal Flying Corps no longer prevailed and was absorbed into the recently developed Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force now had its own command structure away from the army and provided its own ranks.
With such groundbreaking inventions as the Model T, and the first aircraft, much reform was brought upon the United States as a whole, at a national level. Throughout these two decades, much development took place in the United States, and much more was on its way.
New technology in the 1920s attributed to the change. Inventions such as the radio helped improve communication. Court trials, conventions, and meetings were broadcasted. Electrical appliances improved homes. In 1922, Sinclair Lewis wrote, "These standard advertised wares- toothpastes, socks, tires, cameras, instantaneous hot-water heaters were his symbols and proofs of excellence, at first the signs, then the substitutes, for joy and passion and wisdom" (Document A.) The invention of the motion picture was also very significant. The invention of the airplane was influential as well. Charles Lindbergh's nonstop, 33-hour flight from New York to Paris helped increase interest in planes. Afterwards, Lindbergh became almost a world hero. Mary B. Mullett stated in The American Magazine, "When, because of what we believe him to be, we gave Lindbergh the greatest ovation in history, we convicted ourselves of having told a lie about ourselves. For we proved that the "things of good report" are the same today as they were nineteen hundred years ago . . . to have shown us this truth about ourselves is the biggest thing that Lindbergh has done" (Document F.) Within two years, William E. Boeing had created the first commercial airplane and was flying people from San Francisco to Chicago in it. The automobile was the biggest invention of its time. The automobile helped the tourist industry, and created some new businesses, such as gas...
In the 1900's, transportation and weapons became important for the different wars that the United States were involved in. Planes were one of the most significant inventions in the 20th century. Being able to fly from place to place was a new lifestyle for America's military. In World War II, military planes were a huge part of the war, and without them, many things that happened, would not have happened. As America was getting involved with Japan, they needed a more powerful plane. That plane that they needed was known as the B-29 Superfortress. The B-29 had a greater impact on Japan than any other plane because of the amount of destroyed resources in Japan, the most destructive firebomb in history, and the dropping of the first atomic bomb.
The aviation industry in the 1920s took flight because of men and women like Charles Lindbergh, William Boing, Betty Coleman, William J. Powell, Richard Evelyn Byrd, and Raymond Orteig. Their efforts and risks helped shape the industry as well as the Jazz Age. Both Lindbergh and Amundsen are both famous for their daring feats that helped push the limits of their planes at the time and brought attention to the new industry. Boing and Orteig are also both well recognized for investing in the industry so that it had monetary backup to make it profitable to continuously improve and advance new airplane designs.
In the 1920s, American Industries flourished under President Calvin Coolidge. Both Coolidge Herbert Hoover preferred governmental policies that kept taxes low and business profits high. They fit the pro-business essence of the 1920s perfectly. High tariffs helped American manufacturers, government management in business was decreasing, and wages were increasing. The automobile was the main support of the American economy from 1920-1970. It greatly transformed the American countryside and civilization. Some of the various changes included: Paved roads, traffic lights, motels, billboards, home design, gas stations, repair shops, shopping centers, freedom for rural families, independence for women and young people, and growing cities. By 1920, 80% of world’s vehicles were being driven in the U.S. This lead to Urban Sprawl- when cities spread in all directions. The American airline industry started carrying mail and eventual...
Wilbur and Orville Wright spent their lives building and working with mechanical devices. They began with little toys as children and then grew up and began working with bicycles. These works lead them towards their work with airplanes. The Wright Brothers tried for many years to build a successful flying machine and succeeded. The Wright Brothers laid the foundation for aviation when they made history by being the first to create a successful flying machine.
"How Has The Airplane Shaped Our Culture?" How Has The Airplane Shaped Our Culture? N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
The Airplane was first invented in 1903; it amazed everyone but never really took off because of how dangerous it still was. They used planes in WWI but they threw them aside. After WWI (around mid 1920’s) the Federal Government had the idea of airmail. This was readily accepted; instead of receiving mail in two weeks it would only take a couple of days. Soon after this, transporting people quickly caught on although only the upper-class people could afford it, it soon became accessible to almost everyone. (Inventions: Airplane)
The history of flying dates back as early as the fifteenth century. A Renaissance man named Leonardo da Vinci introduced a flying machine known as the ornithopter. Da Vinci proposed the idea of a machine that had bird like flying capabilities. Today no ornithopters exist due to the restrictions of humans, and that the ornithopters just aren’t practical. During the eighteenth century a philosopher named Sir George Cayley had practical ideas of modern aircraft. Cayley never really designed any workable aircraft, but had many incredible ideas such as lift, thrust, and rigid wings to provide for lift. In the late nineteenth century the progress of aircraft picks up. Several designers such as Henson and Langley, both paved the way for the early 1900’s aircraft design. Two of the most important people in history of flight were the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers were given the nickname the “fathers of the heavier than air flying machine” for their numerous flights at their estate in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright created a motor-powered biplane in which they established incredible feats of the time. The Wright Brothers perfected their design of the heavier than air flying ma...
In the late 19th century, transportation took enormous time and effort, and it was often dangerous. With this being said, it was time for someone to shine. The creative minds of the world began to come out, and, finally, the world met a breakthrough. In Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, an alarming invention would change the way humans transport, forever. In 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright had succeeded in a lifelong adventure of creating a flying machine.
The invention of the airplane, ever since it was invented in 1903 has impacted the world in many ways. It has increased the job rate, boosted the economy, created cultural diversion, and created less pollution than most means of travel. Orville Wright once said, “The airplane stays up because it doesn't have time to fall.” The airplane never did fall and excelled in everything it did, not falling once. The airplane, one of the most important inventions created in the 20th century, impacted travel ways across the world.