Necessity being the mother of invention, the advent of WW2 was to see major advancements in both the design and the technology of aircraft.  Planes were built to carry huge payloads, travel great distances without refuelling and become more versatile in the skies.  WW2 also saw the development of the jet engine, the power behind today's modern airliners and rocket power, the technology of which led to the exploration of space.  It was soon recognised by all sides during WW2 that ruling the skies was of strategic importance in deciding the outcome of the battle and ultimately the war.  This was graphically demonstrated in what became termed as 'The Battle Of Britain'.  The Germans planed invasion of Britain relied heavily on them gaining control of the skies, when that failed their invasion plans were greatly set back.  Two types of aircraft were responsible for the Germans change of heart, the Hurricane and the Spitfire, the later probably being the most famous of all fighting planes and certainly the most affective fighter plane during WW2.  The sky held an element of surprise that neither the land or sea had that both sides were to try to make the best use of.  However, that element of surprise was just as likely to be aimed at innocent members of the public as at the enemy forces, the Germans used their V1 and V2 rockets against civilian targets and the Americans dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The momentum of aviation development continued after WW2 ended, this was pushed along as much by the civilian sector as by the military.  The development of the pressurised cabin and the jet engine meant the race was on to produce a new generation of high speed passenger aircraft. See Civilian Aviation  The race was also on to break the sound barrier.  Many doubted that it was possible but in 1947 a US test pilot broke the barrier for the first time, a feat that only one civilian aircraft has managed, Concorde.

Records were constantly be set and broken in all aspects of aviation, altitude,  speed size, etc, and aircraft manufacturers were continuously striving to design and build the ultimate in aircraft.  The manufacturers were spurred on by the major civilian operators who were clamouring for bigger and faster planes, each wanting to capture a greater share of the market.  The demand for superior military aircraft by the Super Powers during the Cold War was also a major factor in innovation in aircraft development.  Rich pickings in the form of government contracts were on offer which encouraged aircraft manufacturers to seek to develop bigger and better aeroplanes, aircraft that could fly close to the edge of the atmosphere and carry huge payloads of weapons over great distances, and fighter aircraft that could fly below radar and strike at the target before the other side were aware of their presence.

One aircraft developed during the cold war is possibly the most successful military aircraft to date, in terms of adaptability and longevity, the B-52 Stratofortress.  The B-52 first flew in 1954, entering military service shortly afterwards, and today remain the number one strategic bomber within the USAF.  Of the total of 744 B-52's delivered only 94 still remain in service, however it is planed that the B-52 remain in service until at least the year 2020.  The B-52 is a giant among aircraft with a fuselage length of 159 feet and a wingspan of 185 feet, with each of the wings having four jet engines that generate enough power to fly the aircraft at speeds up to 650 mph.  The B-52 has been constantly modified and upgraded and is fitted out with the latest in technology.  It is a true multi-role aircraft capable of carrying a weapons payload (both nuclear and conventional) in excess of 31 tons with a range of 8,800 miles, further if refuelled in flight, and is capable of performing both high and low level attack runs.

Although the B-52 is crammed packed with the latest in technology externally it looks very dated, after all, the design was laid down nearly 50 years ago.  The same could not be said of the F117A Nighthawk.  The F117A was  the fist aircraft to use stealth technology.  This shape and the surface of the airframe are specifically designed to make radar observation very difficult.  Internally the aircraft uses the latest Fly-by-Wire and Glass-cockpit technology (see Glass Cockpit) and uses the most advanced navigation system incorporating the Global Positioning System all linked into the latest digital avionics control.

The Race to the Stars

Although strictly speaking space travel does not come under the heading of aviation, a lot of the technologies developed by the space agencies have directly and indirectly benefited both civil and military aviation.  Over the centuries man has looked up at the stars and wondered if there are other civilisations out there in space and once flying became a possibility, thoughts were turned towards the possibility that one day space exploration might be possible.  The development of rocket power during WW2 was the motivation for, what became termed as the Space Race, when the two major superpowers, USA and USSR, were in competition to be the first to conquer space.  A brief outline of space achievements is given in the Time Line page.