| By definition, an aircraft is a structure | | | | hot combustible products of fuel directly |
| capable of carrying its weight and travel | | | | acting on the engine. With this power coming |
| through air by the means of support from its | | | | from the aircraft's engine, the aircraft will |
| own buoyancy or the dynamic action of the air | | | | then be accelerated at a very high speed |
| against its surfaces. Aircrafts have been of | | | | while it moves it into the air. |
| great interest to anyone because man has | | | | |
| always been fascinated with flying. With this | | | | However, there are some exceptions for this |
| great desire to soar the sky, there have been | | | | classification of heavier-than-air aircrafts. |
| a number of attempts to build contraptions | | | | Some heavier-than-air aircrafts do not have |
| that will bring them closer to this goal. | | | | engines such as the glider. To get ready for |
| | | | flight, a glider gains its thrust from |
| From the moment Leonardo da Vinci, a great | | | | winches (or machines that wind up ropes), |
| inventor and artist, wrote his vision of an | | | | gravity and thermal currents. |
| aircraft in his notebooks, it was evident | | | | |
| that man was determined to fly and build the | | | | Lighter-than-air aircrafts utilize buoyancy |
| contraption that will bring him closer to the | | | | or the upward force of an object immersed in |
| sky. | | | | air or gas. To be buoyant, lighter-than-air |
| | | | aircrafts such as hot air balloons and |
| There had not been few but several noted and | | | | airships uses dense gases such as helium and |
| documented attempts to build the world's | | | | hydrogen or hydrogen to move the air around |
| first functioning aircraft. Unfortunately | | | | the aircraft. |
| most of the aircrafts designed and build did | | | | |
| not even make it on air. The honor of being | | | | Further classifications of aircrafts depend |
| the first persons to put a heavier-than-air | | | | on its usage. |
| aircraft on flight goes to the brothers | | | | |
| Wilbur and Orville Wright. | | | | Military aircrafts such as combat planes and |
| | | | fighter planes used for reconnaissance and |
| The Wright Brother's aircraft had a wingspan | | | | surveillance is one category of aircrafts |
| of 12 m (40 ft) and weighed 340 kg (750 lb) | | | | based on usage. |
| including the pilot. As the two brothers took | | | | |
| turns in flying the plane, Wilbur, in the | | | | These types of aircrafts are not just widely |
| last of the flights, stayed in the air for 59 | | | | used for national security nowadays but had |
| seconds and traveled 260 m (852 ft) at speeds | | | | been of great use during the World Wars. It |
| a little under 16 km/h (10 mph). | | | | is in World War I when bombers, or aircrafts |
| | | | mainly utilized to attack enemy vehicles, |
| In December 17, 1903, the message "Sent from | | | | ships and aircrafts were first designed and |
| Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, after having | | | | employed. |
| successfully completed the world's first | | | | |
| powered flights" by Wilbur Wright and Orville | | | | In World War II, tankers, or aircrafts |
| Wright confirmed their success of putting | | | | designed to refuel other aircrafts in |
| their aircraft design on flight. | | | | mid-flight were used to increase fighter |
| | | | planes' operational efficiency. |
| From then on, several modifications and | | | | |
| alterations of the Wright Brother's original | | | | Commercial planes, private jets, carrier |
| aircraft design were developed. | | | | aircrafts, recreational hot air balloon |
| | | | flights and general aviation aircrafts are |
| As of present, there are two main categories | | | | categorized under civilian aviation. This |
| of aircrafts - heavier-than-air or aerodynes | | | | category comprises the vast majority of the |
| and lighter-than-air or aerostats. | | | | aircrafts that set flight everyday and is the |
| | | | most common and well-know category of |
| Examples of aircrafts that are classified | | | | aircrafts. |
| under heavier than air are helicopters and | | | | |
| fixed-wing aircrafts such as airplanes. For | | | | Both civilian and military aircrafts are |
| fixed-wing aircrafts to fly it must have an | | | | sub-classified into further categories. |
| engine that is motorized by the expansion of | | | | |