The Wright brothers put on the world’s first air show in 1909, successfully demonstrating that a fixed-wing aircraft could fly. Just five years later the first scheduled passenger airline — the Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line — was established. But it lasted only four months.
Most other early attempts at establishing passenger service ended the same way: bankruptcy. In fact, it would take another 30 years before commercial aviation really took flight.
Airships versus Airplanes
That was largely because a competing technology was older and more mature. Up until the late 1930s, airships—also called blimps, balloons or zeppelins—were the preferred mode of air travel, and for good reason.
Early airplanes could drop hundreds of feet without warning. The noise during take off was nearly loud enough to render passengers permanently deaf. The longest flight, London to Brisbane, Australia, required 24 scheduled stops and 11 days.
Airships, meanwhile, traveled some 250 to 350 feet off the ground at around 80 miles per hour. The trips were so smooth passengers often didn’t notice when the airship had taken off. It was said you could balance a pencil on a table during an airship flight.
The world’s largest airship, the Graf Zeppelin, could get you from Germany to Brazil in just five days in 1930. You stepped on in Friedrichshafen, Germany on Saturday night and stepped off in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday morning.
Early Successes
It was not until the late 1920s that a concerted effort to establish passenger airliners with fixed-wing aircraft was undertaken.
In 1927, a fund was created by the wealthy Guggenheim family to demonstrate to the public that commercial passenger airplanes could be “safe, dependable, economically feasible, and even comfortable.” That same year, the first non-stop transatlantic flight was completed by Charles Lindbergh in just over 33 hours.
Success came in the form of the all-metal Ford Trimotor and Stout Air Services, which is generally recognized as the first regularly scheduled passenger airline in America. Stout was later bought by American Airways.
In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first American politician to travel to a political convention by air when he flew from Albany, NY to Chicago aboard a Ford Trimotor to deliver his acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee. The trip was meant to portray FDR as a daring and forceful leader — a commentary on just how safe fixed-wing aircraft were considered at the time.
The true turning point in the battle for passengers between airships and aircraft came in 1937 with the Hindenburg disaster. The tragedy soured the public on viability of airships just as aircraft were becoming competitive. Without the Hindenburg crash, it’s likely fixed-wing airplanes and airships would have coexisted for much longer.
Commercial Aviation has Changed the World
The impact of commercial aviation on the world is difficult to overstate. It has made the world more connected place, bringing people, businesses, countries and cultures closer together.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines in 2014 flew over 50,000 routes connected 3.3 billion people, supported 58 million jobs and delivered goods with a value of $6.8 trillion.
What will commercial aviation look like in 30 or 50 years? Check out Boeing’s hypersonic jet concept to get a better picture. What are the most popular commercial airplanes in history? Check out our list of the best selling commercial jets ever.
This is a friendly reminder that Aerospace Manufacturing will be closed for Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
As we near the hectic holiday season, we would like to remind you how AMI can help reduce your stress and ensure your critical projects are completed on time:
– Late hours Monday through Friday: 9AM – 8PM
– Very short lead-times of 1 to 4 weeks on high strength, close tolerance fasteners
– Same-day shipment on stock items
It’s why we’re trusted by a large and faithful base of domestic and international customers including NASA, Lockheed Martin, DLA, NAVICP, the US Navy, and Sikorsky, among many others.
Roughly 100,000 commercial flights are scheduled around the globe every day. Over 25,000 commercial jets make up the global fleet, and that number is expected to grow to 35,000 over the next ten years.
Which begs the question: What jets make up the majority of the global fleet? What are the best-selling commercial jets?
Boeing 737
Taking first place is the Boeing 737, a short- to medium-range twinjet narrow-body commercial jet that first went operational in 1967.
Earlier this year, the 10,000th Boeing 737 rolled off the line in Renton, Washington. Today 47 737-family aircraft leave the facility every month — a pace that’s only increasing with each passing year.
It took 40 years to manufacture the first 5,000 737s. The second 5,000 only took 12 years.
The 737 will likely remain the best-selling commercial jet for the foreseeable future; there’s a backlog of over 4,500.
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 is a short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial twin-engine jet that first went into operation in 1988.
Airbus currently manufactures 50 A320s a month, and that number is expected to increase to 60 a month by 2019.
Jets in the A320 family carry between 100 to 240 passengers. It’s engines, twin Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G geared turbofans, were designed specifically for the A320.
A320s, which take off or land somewhere in the world every 1.6 seconds, are currently manufactured in France, Germany, China and the United States.
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747, the first aircraft to be dubbed a “Jumbo Jet,” is a wide-body, 410-seat commercial jet and cargo aircraft that’s prized by commercial carriers as a big money-maker on high-volume routes.
Until the advent of the A380 in the 2000s, the 747 was the largest commercial transport aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force recently announced that the 747-8 will replace the two 747-200s that serve as the presidential Air Force One fleet. The Global Supertanker, a modified 747 airliner, is the largest aerial firefighting aircraft in the world.
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet with a typical seating capacity of 314 to 396 passengers and a range of 5,240 to 8,555 nautical miles. It’s the largest twin-engine jet in the world.
As of 2018, a total of 1,534 aircraft have been delivered, but production has slowed to a trickle of 5 per month.
Boeing will go in a new direction with the 777X, which will be “the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world, unmatched in every aspect of performance” when it goes into service in 2020.
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a medium- to long-range wide-body twin-engine jet with a range of 2,700 to 7,250 (depending on the model) that seats between 247 to 406 passengers.
Since 1991, a total of 1,393 A330s have been produced. The largest operator of the A330, Turkish Airlines, has 65 in its fleet.
Considered ulta efficient for its size, some of its longest routes include: Dubai-London, Paris-Singapore, and Paris-Los Angeles.
(One of the biggest dangers for A330s — and commercial jets of any size? Bird strikes. You can read all about an innovative new approach to preventing them in the AMI blog.)
Everyone knows about Air Force One — there was even a movie named after it — but what about Marine One, the specially built helicopter that serves as the president’s traffic-dodger and escape vehicle?
As it turns out, it’s one of the most awe-inspiring, badass helicopters on earth.
Marine One Features
It can cruise at a breezy 150 miles per hour, and can continue flying even if one of its three engines fail. It has ballistic armor, advanced missile warning systems and anti-missile defenses. The interior is so quiet that passengers can speak in a normal tone of voice.
No matter where in the world it lands, the president is greeted, and saluted, by a Marine. No matter where it flies, it’s accompanied by an identical decoy — just like Air Force One.
History of Marine One
Marine One is actually many helicopters — currently eleven Sikorsky VH-3Ds and eight Sikorsky VH-60Ns — piloted by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron responsible for the transportation of the President of the United States, Vice President and other heads of state.
The first time a helicopter transported the President was in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew on a Bell UH-13J Sioux, which was soon replaced by a Sikorsky UH-34 Seahorse.
Sikorsky’s New Marine One to be Operational 2020
Sikorsky’s VH-92 is set to take up the mantle of Marine One in 2020.
The biggest difference between the VH-92A and its predecessors is its three ventral fairings for the helicopter’s Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system — the laser-based infrared-guided missile blinding system that is the critical defensive measure aboard Air Force One, Marine One, and other American military aircraft.
The U.S. Navy plans to buy 23 VH-92As, 21 of which will go into HMX-1.
Procure from Aerospace Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing is a AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited manufacturer of high strength, close tolerance aerospace metric fasteners and standard fasteners.
Our clientele includes industry leading OEM Aerospace and Defense contractors and organizations including Bombardier, DLA, NASA, U.S. Navy, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, NAVICP, and Sikorsky.
The Orion capsule, a deep-space exploration spacecraft that NASA has been developing with Lockheed Martin, will usher in a new era of space exploration.
Orion will make its first unmanned test launch in 2020 atop the massive Space Launch System. In 2023, the next mission will carry astronauts far behind the moon’s dark side, making two close passes of its surface. In the future, Orion will likely take us back to the Moon, to Mars and even into the outer solar system.
Discussing Orion, Rob Chambers, the director of human spaceflight strategy for Lockheed Martin, said, “We are very confident the inner solar system is going to be a vibrant place by the time NASA turns 100.”
That’s thanks to Orion.
Here’s a preview of Orion’s maiden voyage, Exploration Mission 1, which will be the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars.
Meet the Orion
The Orion is a Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle that is intended to carry a crew of four astronauts to destinations beyond low Earth orbit. Along with the Space Launch System, it’s just one piece of a larger strategy by NASA to establish a permanent Lunar Outpost from which to explore deep space.
Click here to learn more about the Moon to Mars mission
Procure from Aerospace Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing is a AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited manufacturer of high strength, close tolerance aerospace fasteners that are trusted by industry leading OEMs like Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, Bombardier, General Electric, DLA, NAVICP, NASA, and the U.S. Navy.
Aerospace Manufacturing is proud to announce that we received a formal Certificate of Registration certifying that our Quality Management System (QMS) meets AS9100 Revision D and ISO 9001:2015 requirements.
With its greater emphasis on traceability, FOD prevention, Disaster Recovery Awareness, strategic planning/business direction, and on-time delivery, AS9100 Revision D certification is a game-changer for us.
Though we are already trusted to manufacture high strength, close tolerance aerospace fasteners for major OEM leaders like Boeing, Bombardier, DLA, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky, our AS9100 Revision D certification will further open up our business to OEMs that will not admit suppliers unless they are AS9100 certified.
About Aerospace Manufacturing
Our commitment to quality is 30+ years strong, and our AS9100 Revision D certification is only the latest step. Our inventory includes 100’s of FN, DFARS compliant parts. We utilize the latest technology and the highest quality materials to meet all FAA regulations.
– Vertically Integrated, In-House Manufacturing
All Aerospace Manufacturing parts are tooled, cut, forged, aged, plated, ground, thread rolled, drilled and tested in house to ensure the highest quality through every step in the manufacturing process.
– State-of-the-Art Facility
We operate a 27,000 square foot facility and a state-of-the-art plating facility to boldly create world-class fasteners in-house.
– Unmatched Customization
We have an experienced team with a proven track record of providing customers with highly specialized parts that meet their needs.
– Superior Customer Service
Our attitude toward customer service matches our manufacturing philosophy: We go above and beyond every single time. We commit to quote turnarounds of 24 Hours or less.
Bird strikes cost aviators and airline carriers an estimated $957 million per year in the United States. Since 1990, they have destroyed or damaged beyond repair 247 civil aircraft, from small planes like the one below, to large commercial airliners like US Airways Flight 1549, which struck a flock of Canada geese, lost all engine power, and was forced to make its famous landing in the Hudson River.
Bird strikes have been a hazard since the earliest days of aviation. The first reported bird strike was by Orville Wright in 1905. Numerous low-tech, (low-effectiveness) solutions are in use across the globe to reduce the frequency of bird strikes, including:
– Shooting guns and cannons
– Playing loud noises on speakers
– Introducing predatory birds
– Eliminating crops and/or bodies of water frequented by birds around airports
To no avail.
So should bird strikes be regarded as occupational hazard, an unavoidable part of doing business in the skies? Perhaps not, thanks to a novel new strategy that’s coming from a surprising source: drones.
Herding birds with drones
To aviators, small lightweight drones are a threat. With almost seven million drones to be sold in the U.S. by 2020, the threat is only growing.
Yet a new study conducted by professors from KAIST, a leading research-oriented science and engineering institution in South Korea; Caltech, and Imperial College London suggests that drones could actually play a leading role in preventing bird strikes.
The professors made extensive observations of flock dynamics — specifically how flocks of birds respond to threatening objects, like noisy little drones — and used that information to design an algorithm that would allow a single autonomous quadrotor drone to herd a flock of birds in a prescribed direction without breaking their formation. Basically the study found out how close and how fast you could fly to a flock of birds without causing the flock to disperse, and how to reliably steer a flock of birds. As it turns out, most species of migratory bird (the type that poses the greatest threat to aviation) respond in similar, predictable ways to certain drone maneuvers.
The next stage of the study is to improve the drones’ flock detection system and its autonomous flight capabilities so they can automatically detect and herd flocks away from protected airspace with no human intervention required. We’ll stay tuned and keep you posted!
To learn the nitty gritty about how bird strikes affect commercial aviation, check out this awesome page from the FAA.
And if you liked this blog, don’t miss our blog on MIT’s inventive solution to airline lightning strikes!
Procure from Aerospace Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing is a AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited manufacturer of High Strength, Close Tolerance Aerospace Fasteners.
Our clientele includes industry leading OEM Aerospace and Defense contractors and organizations including Bombardier, DLA, NASA, U.S. Navy, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky.
Boeing recently won the contract to manufacture the KC-46 Pegasus tanker, a next-generation USAF aerial refueling aircraft that’s replacing the aging KC-135 Stratotanker. We are proud to create a critical fastener for the Pegasus.
Which is why we are excited to share the news that Boeing has also won the contract to create US Navy’s next-generation tanker, the MQ-25 Stingray, which is being called an “aerial gas station. Obviously that description belies its true importance.
The US Navy MQ-25 Stingray is an uncrewed, carrier-based tanker aircraft that will extend the range of US Navy carrier-based fighters and allow aircraft carriers to remain out of range of increasingly sophisticated coastal defenses.
It’s seen as an essential tool in the US Navy’s deterrence role in the Western Pacific, especially as the Chinese military places more anti-ship ballistic missiles and other defenses on man-made islands in the South China Sea.
MQ-25 Stingray: More than a Aerial Gas Station
The requirements provided by the US Navy to Lockheed, Boeing and General Atomics — who were all competing for the contract — were as follows: an unmanned aircraft capable of launching from a carrier deck and delivering 14,000 pounds to an aircraft 500 nautical miles away, essentially doubling the range of F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35C Joint Strike Fighter attack missions.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, the MQ-25 “represents a dramatic shift in the way we define warfighting requirements” and how the US Navy integrates unmanned and manned aircraft.
Initial operating capability for the MQ-25 Stingray is expected by 2024. Boeing could deliver up to 72 at a total cost of $13 billion.
Procure from Aerospace Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing is a AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited manufacturer of High Strength, Close Tolerance Aerospace Fasteners trusted by world-class OEM leaders like Boeing, DLA, NASA, US Navy, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky.
Chromium tool steels, also called H series steels, have relatively low carbon content and chromium content between 4.75% and 5.25%. Their unique toughness, abrasion resistance, and their ability to resist deformation even at extreme temperatures and under extreme stress make them ideal for use as tools — but also for aerospace fasteners.
The most commonly used varieties in aerospace are H11, H12 and H13. H11 is easy to work with. It can be welded, machined, forged, and cold worked with conventional methods. Its machinability rate is roughly 75% that of W group steels.
Characteristics of H11 Aerospace Fasteners
– Extreme resistance to heavy loads, impact and stress
– Superior thermal fatigue cracking resistance
– Excellent resistance to thermal shock and gross cracking
– Tensile strength of 289,000 psi
H11 Fasteners are used for:
H11 aerospace fasteners are ideal for use in highly stressed areas of an aircraft, such as its landing gear. Common aerospace bolts made of H11 are those in the MS21297 Series.
Tooling H11 Aerospace Fasteners
Our aerospace fasteners are not only in-house manufactured, but also in-house tested and 100% traceable from raw material to finished product. Our state-of-the-art facility includes the following equipment:
– Forging Presses
– Thread Rolling Machines
– Grinding Machines
– Drilling Machines
– Broaching
– Warm Heading Machines
Procure H11 Aerospace Fasteners from AMI
Aerospace Manufacturing creates a diversified product line of high strength, close tolerance aerospace fasteners for large OEM Aerospace and Defense contractors like Bombardier, DLA, NASA, General Electric, and Lockheed Martin.
We are AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited, QSLM approved and trusted to build the most challenging fasteners.
Two days ago the Parker Solar Probe launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, a rocket only surpassed in power by SpaceX’s brand new Falcon Heavy.
You need a lot of power if you’re going to fly to the Sun, after all, which is what the Parker Solar Probe will do over the next seven years, getting closer to a star than ever before while facing unprecedented levels of heat and radiation.
The probe will use the gravity of Venus to gradually bring its orbit closer to the Sun. At its closest, it will fly right through the Sun’s multi-million-degree temperature corona, just 3.8 million miles from the Sun’s surface and well within the orbit of Mercury, which orbits an average of 36 million miles from the Sun.
Questions the Parker Solar Probe will answer
The probe will seek to answer the following questions, which have stumped scientists for more than 60 years:
– Why is the corona hotter than the solar surface?
– How is solar wind accelerated?
– From where do high-energy solar particles emanate?
The probe is named ‘Parker’ after Dr. Eugene N. Parker, whose “profound contributions pioneered our modern understanding of the Sun.”
Procure from Aerospace Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing is a AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited manufacturer that creates a diversified product line of High Strength, Close Tolerance Aerospace Fasteners for large OEM Aerospace and Defense contractors.
