I often wonder if there has been a single milestone that has contributed to a major leap in civil air travel. There have been many major events in civil aviation history that could arguably be described as “revolutionising air transport.”
1. Introduction of super wide-bodies: 777, 747, A340, A380
2. Major expansion of airport hubs and to a lesser extent, point airports
3. Vast improvement of aircraft economics: 787, A350
5. Introduction of faster jets: Concorde, Tu-144
6. Radical improvement in jet engines namely turbofans and bleed less engines
7. Advent of the Low Cost Airline era
Where as you all may be able to think of more than listed above, I just thought it would be interesting to see what the general perspective is. If you feel that there is an important event missing from above feel free to comment on it.
Personally I feel the advent of the ‘Jumbo Era’ i.e. B747/A380 has (and will) contributed significantly to the way the world copes with air travel. In terms of passenger increase, airport expansion to cope with such aircraft and new route destinations available I believe these planes have (and will continue) to change the world of civil air travel.
Symon
By: murph - 8th February 2006 at 12:13
The invention of the Gas Turbine engine.
By: Michael_Mcr - 8th February 2006 at 11:22
I often wonder if there has been a single milestone that has contributed to a major leap in civil air travel…… Symon
747 for me – it bought ticket prices down – which led to mass air travel – which led to increased air tourism – which led to massive airport expansion – which led to airports appearing in more remote places as flying became the norm for the masses
And so on… i really believe that the 747 will be seen in the fullness of time as being almost as significant in changing social trends as the invention of the train and the car were.
By: adamdowley - 7th February 2006 at 20:25
for me, it would be the jet engine. simple as. without it, surely we wouldn’t have anything that we have today, in terms of civil aviation.
By: nordjet415 - 7th February 2006 at 20:00
For me, the first jet airliner the Comet, the first gas turbine prop liner, the Viscount.
The first rear mounted engined Caravelle, the 707 and VC10 and of course, ther 747 and Concorde.
By: tenthije - 7th February 2006 at 17:54
WW1 for making planes serious.
WW2 for making planes a proper alternative to ships, building lots of airfields.
DC3, 737, 320 nuf said.
Deregulation for making it possible for the LCCs to pop up.
In the great scheme of it, the concorde/tu144 or meaningless. The 787 and 350 will not be a great leap either. More advanced then the 767 and 330 no doubt, but a revolution?
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February 7, 2006 at 5:50 pm