CHAPTER 5CHAPTER 5PEACETIME AVIATIONPEACETIME AVIATIONA.A. Peacetime Distance FlyingPeacetime Distance FlyingB.B. AirshipsAirshipsC.C. Barnstorming and CompetingBarnstorming and CompetingD.D. Airlines and AirmailAirlines and Airmail

Section ASection APeacetime Distance Peacetime Distance

FlyingFlyingLong distance flights demonstrated the Long distance flights demonstrated the

capabilities of aircraft developed during the war capabilities of aircraft developed during the war as well as the skill and experience of pilots, as well as the skill and experience of pilots, navigators, and mechanics. Compared to navigators, and mechanics. Compared to

prewar equipment, military aircraft at the end of prewar equipment, military aircraft at the end of the war were larger and stronger, engine more the war were larger and stronger, engine more

powerful and reliable, and instruments and powerful and reliable, and instruments and radios more developed and more frequently radios more developed and more frequently

installed in aircraft. Military aviation influenced installed in aircraft. Military aviation influenced the immediate postwar activities in civil as well the immediate postwar activities in civil as well

as military aviation.as military aviation.

Navy Flight Across the Navy Flight Across the AtlanticAtlantic►Late in WWILate in WWI

The US Navy and the Curtiss Aeroplane The US Navy and the Curtiss Aeroplane Company designed a new military flying Company designed a new military flying boast to bring the war to German boast to bring the war to German submarines at sea.submarines at sea.►NC flying boats, for Navy/Curtiss, “Nancy”NC flying boats, for Navy/Curtiss, “Nancy”►They were designed to fly across the Atlantic They were designed to fly across the Atlantic

because wartime shipping space was scarce and because wartime shipping space was scarce and the need for aircraft great.the need for aircraft great.

►Curtis built 4 NCs in Garden City, Long Island, Curtis built 4 NCs in Garden City, Long Island, New YorkNew York

►None of the NCs made it war.None of the NCs made it war.

Navy Flight Across the Navy Flight Across the AtlanticAtlantic►NC-1 (Nancy 1)NC-1 (Nancy 1)

Had three Liberty engines installed tractor Had three Liberty engines installed tractor modemode

Set the world’s record for number of Set the world’s record for number of passengers carried: 51 people on 25 passengers carried: 51 people on 25 November 1918.November 1918.

Was under-powered, so the Navy installed Was under-powered, so the Navy installed four engines on the other three NCs. four engines on the other three NCs.

Navy Flight Across the Navy Flight Across the AtlanticAtlanticWith the war over, the Navy decided to fly With the war over, the Navy decided to fly

the NCs across the Atlantic anyway.the NCs across the Atlantic anyway. To demonstrate their capabilitiesTo demonstrate their capabilities To win honor for the US by being the first to To win honor for the US by being the first to

fly across the “pond”fly across the “pond”

May 8 and May 31, 1919May 8 and May 31, 1919 NC-1, NC-3, and NC-4 set offNC-1, NC-3, and NC-4 set off NC-4 commanded and navigated by A.C. Read NC-4 commanded and navigated by A.C. Read

and a crew of 5 flew the first flight across the and a crew of 5 flew the first flight across the Atlantic.Atlantic.

Following a line of over 60 naval ships and Following a line of over 60 naval ships and hopping from stops to stopshopping from stops to stops

Navy Flight Across the Navy Flight Across the AtlanticAtlanticMeanwhile, while the NCs were crossing…Meanwhile, while the NCs were crossing…

►The C-5, a non-rigid, dirigible launched The C-5, a non-rigid, dirigible launched from Rockaway, NY for its own from Rockaway, NY for its own transatlantic.transatlantic. The C-5 reach Newfoundland just ahead ofThe C-5 reach Newfoundland just ahead of

NC- 4, but high winds blew the C-5 NC- 4, but high winds blew the C-5 from its mooring and blew it too sea and lost.from its mooring and blew it too sea and lost.

Navy Flight Across the Navy Flight Across the AtlanticAtlanticBig problems for NC-1 and NC-3Big problems for NC-1 and NC-3

►Both NC-1 and NC-3 ditched at sea.Both NC-1 and NC-3 ditched at sea. NC-1’s crew rescued, but the flying boat NC-1’s crew rescued, but the flying boat

sanksank NC-3 taxied 200 miles to Azores.NC-3 taxied 200 miles to Azores.

Only NC-4 completed the trip eventually Only NC-4 completed the trip eventually ending up in Plymouth, Englandending up in Plymouth, England

Daily Mail…Again?!?!Daily Mail…Again?!?!

The London The London Daily Mail Daily Mail again offered a again offered a prize for the first flight across the prize for the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, now to be completed Atlantic Ocean, now to be completed with 72 consecutive hours.with 72 consecutive hours.

British war veterans John Alcock and British war veterans John Alcock and Arthur Brown flew a modified Vickers Arthur Brown flew a modified Vickers Vimy (WWI bomber) to victory on 14-15 Vimy (WWI bomber) to victory on 14-15 June 1919.June 1919.

Alcock-Brown CrossingAlcock-Brown Crossing

The Alcock team left Newfoundland on The Alcock team left Newfoundland on 14 June 1919.14 June 1919.

Alcock was pilotAlcock was pilot

Brown was NavigatorBrown was Navigator Used celestial navigationUsed celestial navigation And drift sights to determine positionAnd drift sights to determine position

Airship RoundtripAirship Roundtrip

After armistice, the British offered to loan After armistice, the British offered to loan its unneeded airships to the British Air its unneeded airships to the British Air Ministry to explore the commercial Ministry to explore the commercial potential of airships.potential of airships.

The British military determined their The British military determined their designs were too weak, and decided to designs were too weak, and decided to design airships based on German design airships based on German technology.technology.

Airship RoundtripAirship Roundtrip

►The British built the R.34The British built the R.34 Lifted off from East Fortune on 2 July 1919Lifted off from East Fortune on 2 July 1919 Commanded by Edward M. Maitland and a Commanded by Edward M. Maitland and a

crew of 30.crew of 30. Became the first lighter-than-air craft to Became the first lighter-than-air craft to

cross the Atlantic and the first aircraft to do cross the Atlantic and the first aircraft to do it east to west, against the prevailing it east to west, against the prevailing winds.winds.

After its success, the R.34 became After its success, the R.34 became obsolete, due to airship being constructed obsolete, due to airship being constructed by German design.by German design.

Australian FlightAustralian Flight

►Four Australians, led by brother Ross Four Australians, led by brother Ross and Keith Smith, flew a Vickers Vimy and Keith Smith, flew a Vickers Vimy from England to Australia over a 28-from England to Australia over a 28-day period in November-December day period in November-December 1919.1919. Flew over 11,000 milesFlew over 11,000 miles Won a prize for the featWon a prize for the feat United distant parts of the British Empire United distant parts of the British Empire

by air.by air.

Other Long Distance FlightsOther Long Distance Flights

►H.N. Wrigley and A.W. Murphy flew the H.N. Wrigley and A.W. Murphy flew the first transcontinental flight across first transcontinental flight across Australia late 1919Australia late 1919

►Pierre Van Rynekeld and C.J. Quintin Pierre Van Rynekeld and C.J. Quintin Brand flew the first flight from England Brand flew the first flight from England to South Africa in early 1920.to South Africa in early 1920.

►Safe to say that Long-Distance flying Safe to say that Long-Distance flying began in 1919.began in 1919.

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

► Robert H. GoddardRobert H. Goddard

Published books on Published books on liquid-fueled rocketsliquid-fueled rockets

Started work in Started work in 1919, but finally 1919, but finally successfully successfully launched a rocket in launched a rocket in 1926. 1926.

End of Section AEnd of Section A

Section BSection BAirshipsAirships

Postwar aviation included an Postwar aviation included an enthusiasm for airships and activities enthusiasm for airships and activities such as “prospecting” or surveying air such as “prospecting” or surveying air routes for possible airship lines. The routes for possible airship lines. The

airship proved itself during the war as a airship proved itself during the war as a naval coastal patrol ship and in 1919 ad naval coastal patrol ship and in 1919 ad a long-distance aircraft. Prohibited from a long-distance aircraft. Prohibited from

military aviation, Germany turns its military aviation, Germany turns its postwar interest to commercial air postwar interest to commercial air

travel by airshiptravel by airship

ZeppelinsZeppelins

As soon as the war ended, the Zeppelin Co. As soon as the war ended, the Zeppelin Co. built two new rigids for passenger servicebuilt two new rigids for passenger service LZ 120, LZ 120, BodenseeBodensee (Lake Constance) (Lake Constance) LZ 121, LZ 121, Nordstern Nordstern (North Star)(North Star)Both were confiscated as restitution for German Both were confiscated as restitution for German

equipment destroyed after the war.equipment destroyed after the war. LZ 120 went to ItalyLZ 120 went to Italy LZ 121 went to France; renamed LZ 121 went to France; renamed MediterraneeMediterraneeFrance also got the L 72; renamed France also got the L 72; renamed DixmudeDixmude

ZeppelinsZeppelins

In 1923 France launched both the In 1923 France launched both the MediterraneeMediterranee and and DixmudeDixmude for flights for flights between its African colonies. These between its African colonies. These were “prospecting” flights. were “prospecting” flights.

Other zeppelins were dismantled and Other zeppelins were dismantled and shipped to other countries. Britain shipped to other countries. Britain benefited by finally getting their hand benefited by finally getting their hand on the German technologyon the German technology

R.38R.38

►The Short Brothers began construction The Short Brothers began construction of the rigid R.38 at Cardingtonof the rigid R.38 at Cardington But the British gov’t. completed the work But the British gov’t. completed the work

after nationalizing the Cardington plant after nationalizing the Cardington plant into the Royal Airship Works.into the Royal Airship Works.

The test flight became the worst aerial The test flight became the worst aerial disaster to date, when on 24 August 1921, disaster to date, when on 24 August 1921, the R.38 crashed during a high-speed turn the R.38 crashed during a high-speed turn and killed 44 men, with only 5 survivors.and killed 44 men, with only 5 survivors.

RomaRoma

The US Navy bought the Italian-made The US Navy bought the Italian-made semi-rigid semi-rigid Roma Roma and crashed it on 21 and crashed it on 21 February 1922, with a loss of 34 men.February 1922, with a loss of 34 men.

The American response was to abandon The American response was to abandon flammable hydrogen to make the flammable hydrogen to make the switch to helium.switch to helium.

Shenandoah, ZR-1Shenandoah, ZR-1

►The first helium airship, also the first The first helium airship, also the first airship made in the U.S.airship made in the U.S.

►Design based on captured German Design based on captured German technology.technology.

►Weighed 40 tons, could lift 62 tonsWeighed 40 tons, could lift 62 tons►Maiden flight 4 September 1923Maiden flight 4 September 1923►The Navy planned on sending it to the The Navy planned on sending it to the

North Pole…yet another first to be North Pole…yet another first to be conquered. conquered.

Shenandoah, ZR-1Shenandoah, ZR-1

►The Navy cancelled the polar flight The Navy cancelled the polar flight and planned instead a transcontinental and planned instead a transcontinental flight, it departed on 7 October 1924.flight, it departed on 7 October 1924.

It never made it…..It never made it…..

September 1925, the September 1925, the ShenandoahShenandoah was was caught in a squall line, and crashedcaught in a squall line, and crashed

BUT, IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE!BUT, IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE!

Los Angeles, LZ-126Los Angeles, LZ-126

► The German were not allowed the production The German were not allowed the production of any military aircraftof any military aircraft

► But the US requested an exception so that one But the US requested an exception so that one last airship be built by Zeppelin before the last airship be built by Zeppelin before the plant was destroyed.plant was destroyed.

► Zeppelin’s former assistant, Hugo Eckener Zeppelin’s former assistant, Hugo Eckener personally delivered the airship to the US personally delivered the airship to the US Navy.Navy.

Eckener saved the Zeppelin Co. by convincing the Allies that Eckener saved the Zeppelin Co. by convincing the Allies that airships were not militarily viable in the age of fighter planes. He airships were not militarily viable in the age of fighter planes. He revived the German airship industry as a wholly civil enterprise.revived the German airship industry as a wholly civil enterprise.

GermanyGermany

Soon Allied restrictions on German Soon Allied restrictions on German airship production were liftedairship production were lifted The Zeppelin Co. began making the LZ The Zeppelin Co. began making the LZ

127, a.k.a. the 127, a.k.a. the Graf Zeppelin.Graf Zeppelin. The LZ 127 was a commercial airliner The LZ 127 was a commercial airliner

specially designed for regular specially designed for regular transatlantic service.transatlantic service.

End of Section BEnd of Section B

Time for a break!!!Time for a break!!!