Figure 1.-- Airplanes in the inter-War era continued the evolution began in World War I from low-powered biplanes constructed from wood and fabric to sleek, high-powered monoplanes made of aluminum. The powerful monoplne here is thev Lockeed Vega, which appeared in 1927. Some if the most famous pilots if the day flew it (Wally Post and Amelia Earhart). The rugged little plane, often painted a bright red, set many long-distance records. The ability to produce aluminum thus became a critical factor in aircraft production and here electrical generation was critical.

American firms made substantial tchnical advances in the inter-War period in both air frames and engines, two very different specialties. Aircraft design after World War I became increasingly complex, far beyond the capabilities of amateur bicycle repairmen. America's growing university began offering programs in aviation engeneering. European universities were the world leaders before World War I. After the War this began tio change. American affluence and the needs of industry were important factors here. This created a pool of talent inckluding designers and engineers as well as expanding industrial plants that could be easily converted for military use. Airplanes in the inter-War era continued the evolution began in World War I from low-powered biplanes constructed from wood and fabric to sleek, high-powered monoplanes made of aluminum. The ability to produce aluminum thus became a critical factor in aircraft production and here electrical generation was critical. This was begun by the German designer Hugo Junkers during the World War I, but was adopted by American designer William Bushnell Stout as well as Soviet designer Andrei Tupolev. American manufactures addressed the issues of body frames and engines, major aspects of aircraft performance for both civilian and military aircraft. Designers steadily increased speeds, alditude, and range, meeting the needs of both commercial airlines and the military. Thus the advances made in commercial aviation in America during the inter-War era transfrred directly to military aviation. It explains why only about a year after Pearl Harbor, American aviation companies were able to begin producing aircraft that could compete with the advanced German and Japanese types. Both Germany and Japan produced fighters (ME-109 and Zero) that were particularly effective, in part because they were light-weight planes. They could be produced in large numbers with even a modest industrial base. That industrial base did not have the capacity to build a strategic bombing force. American technical capacity and industrial strength, along with British technology, made it possible to produce extremely powerful aircraft engines and in large numbers. They would power both fighters and bombers in huge numbers.

Created: 1:32 PM 6/25/2013
Last updated: 12:10 AM 7/1/2013