by Demetrew Wilfredo Flores

Created on: May 10, 2010

Top Ten Uses of Aviation

When the Wright Brothers demonstrated the first manned powered flight by an airplane in December 1903, the whole world was ushered into an era of man’s conquest of the air. Wilbur envisioned that their invention will have its main application as a carrier of mail and limited uses on the battlefield as a war machine. He was right about the mail and the airplane’s applications in war but there were a lot more uses that evolved through the years.

Mail Carrier – Imagine mail carrying planes at a time when airplanes were covered with fabric and pilots were exposed in an open cockpit with a set of goggles to keep their eyes protected against the wind. It was a relief that we now enjoy steady mails and freight forwarded packages from airplanes on enclosed cockpits and secured cargo compartments. Take note that the term “Air Mail” labeled on mail envelopes had been brought by the utilization of airplanes in carrying mails.

Passenger Transport – From single passengers on tandem seat biplanes, the airplane finally evolved into a first class passenger airline complete with amenities. In- flight entertainment had been superb with LCD screens on the armrest where the passenger could switch through channels to watch the film of his preference. The whole leg of the flight from Manila to London (or any comparable intercontinental flight) could get anyone sleepy and having a flight attendant wake you before each meals is the best meal “in bed” (well not exactly unless you could recline your seat fully on executive class) you could imagine while on the air. I’m wondering what the business class on an Airbus 380 could offer.

Cargo Transport – Before the airplane was invented, people have to endure lost time waiting for special products to be carried by ship from other continents to reach destination. Perishable goods from other continents have to be risked when storms delay the ship’s arrival to their port of destination. When the airplane came into use, everything changed. From lighter to the heaviest cargo imaginable, a freight version aircraft is available to complete the task. Waiting had been in a matter of days and freight forwarding business had been at its best.

Warfare – It couldn’t be denied that all the peaceful applications and advances in aviation had been there because military aviation had been at its peak during the two world wars ( World War I and II) and the

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