Aircraft Carriers (2)

The Moving Airport (2)

During the second world war, aerial support is urgent for the navy. Aircraft can be used for reconnaissance and combat.  One of the most significant carrier-borne attack during the second world war was at the battle of Taranto where Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious launched a surprise attacked on the Italian fleet. The mission was a notable success as the British Navy only lost 2 aircraft while Italian forces suffered about 650 casualties.

As the technique of housing aircraft aboard ships began to grow more and more advanced, almost all aircraft carriers can carry at least 30 aircraft. Aircraft are stored below the decks. They will be brought on to the main deck with an elevator and moved into position. Then, it'll be ready for instructions from the island (building constructed on an aircraft carrier located next to the runway, serves as the HQ). When it's time to go, the pilot will start the engines to full power and step on the brakes to stop the plane from moving. Next, the HQ will tell the pilot when to release the brakes. Once the brakes are released, a steam powered piston on the deck pushes the plane with great force, and the plane is airborne.

Upon landing, the plane will first align itself to the runway. When all is right, flaps are released and the engines are cut to reduce speed. It'll touch down with the speed of about 140 km/h (90 mph). A hook designed specially on carrier-borne planes' tails will grab on to one of the elastic strings and finally coming to and abrupt halt.

Carrier-borne planes are specially designed so that they are capable to land and take-off from a carrier. They must have a very sturdy structure and are able to take-off in a short distance. V/STOL technology is an innovative way of lancing planes. The word V/STOL means "Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing". The MV-22 Osprey is a good example. With its tilting rotor, the propeller can be pointed 90 degrees upward or forward, which means it can take-off like any other helicopters and fly like other piston powered aircraft. Another good example is the Harrier. It has engines on sideways that can rotate from 0 degrees (backwards) to 98 degrees (slightly forwards). By using this technology, aircraft can take-off with extreme speed and respond quicker.

The Harrier, a popular V/STOL aircraft

The HQ of an aircraft carrier, also known as the Island

An Osprey flying with propeller pointing upwards

Aircraft Carriers

The Moving Airport (1)

Ever since the first plane was build, there's a need for a runway. Early airstrips are just a messy dirt path being cleared up. Planes at that time are also poorly equipped and only has indicator lamps. Later, people illuminated the airstrip and paved the runway to avoid night landing failures and skidding. Radar and radio communication are also introduced during the 30's and 40's. However, shifting and airport from one to another location will be laborious and early aircraft had limited fuel to travel, especially during cross-ocean flights. Thus, people thought of carrying aircraft on board of a ship.

In the late 19th century, the only aircraft available was the gas balloon. Many people tried to use ships with platforms to house balloons for military purposes. In 1859, an Austrian navy ship Vulcano launched balloons intended to bomb Venice. This mission was a complete failure as balloons were blown off course due to primitive steering mechanisms. Nevertheless, one bomb did fell on the city. During the American Civil War, Union army launched reconnaissance balloons upon Confederate positions but this method became less effective as the battles soon focused on densely forested terrains where balloons can't reach. Later, a coal barge, named George Washington Parke Custis cleared its deck and replaced it with gas generators and paraphernalia for balloons. This can be considered as the first naval vessel that accommodates aircraft. Till WW1, these vessels are still in active service for the navy.

After the first successful seaplane flight in 1910, the navy became more and more interested in these machines, thus born the seaplane carrier. The seaplanes are first stored in the ship in separated pieces. Once assembled, they are launched by a built-in catapults. After they've accomplished their mission, they land on the sea near their mother-ship. Cranes aboard of the ship then salvage the seaplane and disassemble it. This method costs too much time and labour and the seaplanes cannot react immediately in defence of their mother-ship.

As heavier-than-air aircraft began to develop in 20th century, navies came up with various ideas to house planes in ships. This can be done by installing elevators, hangars, runways and other equipment.

A well recognised seaplane, the Short Sunderland

USS Franklin, an aircraft carrier that housed more than 80 planes

USS Los Angeles, a typical Zeppelin in WW1

The History of Fighter Planes

The History of Fighter Planes (Part 2)

As people became more and more interested in the field of flying, warlords thought of more efficient ways to conquer territories using the air-force and at the same time, reduce casualties. During the inter-war period (1919-1938), many countries developed planes with an enclosed fuselage that reduced air friction and keep the pilot warm. furthermore, radar systems, cannons, parachute, ejection seats, rocket propulsion were introduced. 

During the second world war, flying had gone too advance that people invented something that is considered doesn't belong to that era. These includes the world's first jet fighter, the ME262, the world's first jet bomber, the AR234, the world's first plane to exceed 1000km/h, the ME163.

Meanwhile there are also some notable figures. The plane in which most aces flew was the P-51 where 281 people earn the title flying them. The Japanese fighter A6M Zero is noted as the most agile fighter throughout the war. The most regarded dive bomber is undoubtedly the Stuka where a Luftwaffe ace, Hans-Ulrich Rudel destroyed over 500 soviet tanks. The Supermarine Spitfire can not be forgotten by most of the past generations as it was widely used in almost every theatre such as the British Colonies, Dutch East-Indies, Atlantic and Pacific theatres, Africa and wherever war is present.

Arado 234

Messerschmitt 163

Messerschmitt 262

Junkers 87 Stuka

The Hundredth Pageview

The Hundredth Pageview

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The History of Fighter Planes

The History of Fighter Planes (Part 1)

Airco DH.2, one of the early spy planes manufactured

A Niuport 17 with a Fokker Dr.1 on its tail

Following the invention of planes by the Wright Brothers in the start of the 20th century, planes served as spies. They are vulnerable and had poor airspeed and altitude, which means it may stall during maneuvers above 45 degrees. If an enemy plane is sighted pilots will usually throw stones or fire their pistol at one another.  At the Great War, machine guns were mounted on flying crackpot contraptions, which we can bite through. These planes served for the RAF of Great Britain and the Luftstreitkräfte (say: loof/ strai/ kraf/ te) of Imperial Germany.