The first prototype took flight in April 1948 and was certified in June 1950. The Aero Commander had impeccable safety standards and was the only aircraft of its kind at the time. To prove its safety and reliability, the company completed a flight from Oklahoma City to Washington DC in May 1951; it was loaded to full gross weight and had one of the aircraft propellers was removed from the engine. This flight was a hit and the backlog for the aircraft began to fill. The first production Aero Commander rolled off of the assembly line in August 1951. It was a piston-powered model 520. The Aero Commander went through a series of improvements over the following decades and was known for its impeccable safety and groundbreaking performance.
In 1955, the United States Air Force ordered 15 Aero Commanders and it was the first light twin-engine aircraft deemed safe enough for the President to fly in— so two of them were designated to the White House. The Aero Commander evolved over a few decades and the last plane in this series ended production in 1986. This plane was the model 1000— the most advanced version of the Aero Commander. This aircraft can fly at a maximum cruising speed of 308 knots, has a maximum range of 2,080 nautical miles, and can fly at these maximums with 482 gallons of fuel.
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Since its founding in 1916, The Boeing Company has become the world’s largest aerospace corporation. So, it’s no surprise that some of the most commonly used airplanes for major airlines are Boeing aircraft. Among the many aircraft that Boeing has to offer, the 747, 777, and 737 have been a few of the most popular. Their popularity is due to three factors— efficiency, reliability, and capacity.
The 747 was designed to carry more passengers and cargo when commercial aviation started booming. It introduced the twin-aisle wide-body design and was the first commercial use of the high bypass turbofan engine. In June 2014, Boeing delivered its 1,500th 747 and became the first wide-body airplane in production to cross this threshold. Some of the different variants of the 747 that are used for commercial aviation are the 747-100, 747SP, 747-200, 747-300, 747-400, and the 747-8. Although many airlines are phasing out the ageing 747, cargo carriers are still seeking them out, and the 747-8 will still be in production into the 2020s. The 747-8 is also Air Force One’s preferred aircraft.
The 777s passenger capacity, long range, and fuel efficiency make it a suitable option for international flights. It is the first commercial aircraft entirely designed with a computer and is one of the most aerodynamically advanced aircraft. Boeing currently manufactures the 777-300ER, 777-200LR, 777-200ER, and the 777F— each varying in weight capacity and range. The 777x is currently being manufactured and will be the largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet in the world. It is also introducing folding wingtips, a norm in military aviation, into commercial aviation.
The 737 was intended for short to medium range flight distances, but different models increased capacity and it has since become the most popular jet aircraft. Some of the series that Boeing produces are the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, and the 737-900ER. The 737 MAX was designed to offer the best flexibility, reliability, and efficiency in the single-aisle market. The 737 has an increased range, payload, and takeoff performance; it also has reduced noise, engine maintenance costs, and fuel consumption. It is the fastest selling airplane in Boeing’s history.
Another commercial aircraft manufacturer that has been popular among airlines has been Airbus. Specifically, the A320 family and A380. Airbus is the largest aerospace company in Europe. The A320 is the longest-range single-aisle aircraft and is the world’s best-selling aircraft of all time. There are four sizes in the A320 family: the A318, A319, A320, and the A321. They are versatile and can fly to airports in hot deserts, urban environments, and Antarctic runways. Over the years, the A320 family has become more efficient. This is due to the use of composite primary structures, center-of-gravity control using fuel, glass cockpit (EFIS) and a two-crew flight deck. The A380 has a double-deck, wide body design. It is the world’s largest and most spacious passenger aircraft and is utilized by airlines all around the world. Unfortunately, due to lack of demand, Airbus has decided to stop production of the A380 in February 2019.
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The smallest of the three is the light piston engine helicopter. The Schweizer 300 and Robinson R22 are common light piston helicopters. They have between two to three seats with a speed range of 80-110 mph. They are the most economical of the three, however the fuel they use is expensive. The size is also a bit of a downside because it fits very few people, so most outgrow this model quickly. But it continues to be the most common model for helicopter training and private use, and a fantastic option for first-timers.
Another option is the light turbine helicopters, which are the most commonly owned. The Eurocopter Squirrel and Bell Jet Ranger are popular light turbine helicopters. They fit between five and six passengers! With its sporty look, relative comfort, and faster speed, this model is very popular for both charter and private owners.
The final option is the twin-engine helicopters like the Agusta 109 and Sikorsky S-76. They are very large and expensive compared the two previous options mentioned. This is because they are faster, seat up to 14 people, and are much safer. They are generally owned by corporate and charter companies; however, some are owned privately. Twin-engines can also fly over city centers and park on rooftop pads.
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One of the main goals of aircraft is efficiency — streamlining all aspects of the aircraft and air travel that would optimize efficiency. As seen on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, the combination of passenger capacity and fuel efficiency makes this new plane the cutting edge of aircraft travel. The plane is said to have 25% better fuel economy than its competitor, the Airbus A380.
Another new aircraft innovation is modifying cabin lighting. The aircraft cabin lighting industry is worth nearly 2 billion dollars. This is due to the change from photoluminescent lights to LED lights which are much brighter and more efficient.
Another innovation in the increased usage of a new material called Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). This material is lightweight and durable; it’s very high in demand in the aerospace industry. CFRP, once it comes more economical to manufacture, will be a good replacement for typical aircraft materials like steel and iron as it is much sturdier with through-life durability.
Aircraft seats are a very big aspect to the customer experience that is changing over time. Airlines continue to invest in the newest seats in all aspects of the aircraft including economy class and first class, maximizing comfort. These seats are better despite being thinner and they’re more efficient because airliners are able to fit more passengers per plane without sacrificing leg room.
And, a final trend to look out for is the increase in air travel for business; air travel conducting business more convenient. Despite already making up as much as 75% of an airline’s profit on any given flight, it’s expected that airliners will increasingly cater to the business class and influence aerospace manufacturing accordingly.
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Recently, companies like the Rolls-Royce Corporation are teaming up with Siemens and Airbus to try to create a more environment-friendly turbofan. Rolls-Royces’ new turbofan, powered solely by electric energy, will be only 1 of 4 turbofans on an engine, meaning that the other 3 turbofans are still creating pollution. They’ve also reworked their larger turbofan engines, the Trent 7000 used in the Airbus - France A330, to be cleaner and more environment-friendly. However, Airbus, despite fitting their A300’s with the cleaner Trent 7000s, seems to be more interested in putting more A300s in the sky than they are in being a cleaner company. So, it seems that the cleaner is really relative.
It seems then, that may be a cleaner future is far off. Maybe we’re too attached to what we already know. Maybe the turbofan, no longer a hot new piece of tech, needs to move over for something new. Maybe for dreams like that of Elon Musk and the engineers at SpaceX to be realized and given all the pomp and circumstance it deserves, an old relic like the turbofan engine needs to go. Then again, we’re probably still decades off. Until then, the turbofan is the best we’ve got.
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