Early Airplanes

When the airplane was first invented, many times it used existing technologies. For example, some of the early airplanes had bicycle wheels for landing. These worked well when the airplanes were very lightweight, but as soon as airplanes had larger motors, then they needed wheels more durable than bicycle wheels. Similarly, the first airplane engines were often motorcycle engines. These engines were powerful and light. Over time, though, engines were designed specifically for airplanes.

As aviation progressed, inventors realized that every component of an airplane had to be adapted to the unique demands of flight. Wings, for example, were initially built from wood and fabric stretched tightly over a frame, much like the construction of kites. This made them light but also fragile. Early pilots often had to patch holes in their wings using canvas and glue after each flight.

Eventually, engineers began using metal frames and later aluminum, which provided both strength and reduced weight.

Control systems also evolved quickly. The Wright brothers famously used a system of cables and pulleys to "warp" their wings—twisting them to turn left or right. This was soon replaced by movable flaps, called ailerons, which became the standard way to control roll. Likewise, rudders and elevators, which steer the airplane's direction and pitch, became more refined as flight speeds increased and stability became more important.

In the very earliest airplanes, there were no cockpits at all—the pilot simply sat out in the open, exposed to the wind. While this might have made for an exciting ride, it also created a great deal of drag, since the pilot's body acted like a small parachute against the air. These planes typically flew at speeds of only 30 to 40 miles per hour, so every bit of extra drag made a big difference. If the wind resistance was too strong, the engine and wings had to work harder to keep the airplane aloft.

Pilots quickly learned that smooth, compact shapes—not only in the airplane's design but also in their own posture—helped reduce drag and improve performance. Over time, as planes grew faster and more efficient, cockpits were enclosed to protect the pilot and to make the aircraft more aerodynamic. By the 1920s and 1930s, airplanes looked far more like the ones we recognize today, with enclosed cockpits, stronger fuselages, and purpose-built propellers.

Each improvement was a lesson learned—often through trial, error, and courage. What began as an assembly of borrowed technologies from bicycles, motorcycles, and gliders soon became an entirely new field of engineering: aviation.