The most significant advance in flight?

[Wing Nut]

I'm curious what everyone would say the single most individual advance in flight in the last 100 years is.  For me, that is simple; the development of the jet engine.  But there is almost certainly things I am forgetting or don't know about.  Please don't make a list of twenty items.  Just the one single most important thing that has helped flight along...

[Hagar]

I could write a list as long as your arm. As we're restricted to one I suggest the development of the standard blind flying instruments. Not forgetting the brave test pilots like James H Doolittle who tested them at great personal risk. If you haven't read his biography I can recommend it.

http://www.schifferbooks.com/military/aviationwwii/0887407374.html

[RichieB16]

I feel that the production of the Me262.  Although it's not technically the "first" jet aircraft built, it was the first one that was put into use on a somewhat wide scale.  Once the effect was felt, it made it known that this was the new way to fly and the jet age was born.

[Mr. Bones]

the first thing that comes up in my mind is the speed and payload. look to the Concorde, so damn fast...and look to the 747-400ER...what a payload  8)

[Hagar]

If we're talking about the jet engine used on every modern jet airliner look no further than Sir Frank Whittle.
http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/125/achievements/whittle/whitt-r.htm
To their eternal shame this man's achievements were never properly recognised or rewarded by the British government.

Also the unknown technician (unknown to me anyway) who discovered Nimonic 80, apparently by accident.

[Fozzer]

I had a word with the Sparrows, breakfasting at the bottom of my garden this morning, and they all agreed that the most significant advance in flight was, in their opinion, the ability to flap their wings.
I couldn't argue with that... ...!

LOL... ...!

Paul....(being silly again..)... ...!

[Wing Nut]

Were they carrying coconuts under the dorsal guiding feathers?  ;D

[ozzy72]

Were they carrying coconuts under the dorsal guiding feathers?

You'd need two European Swallows (as African Swallows are non-migratory) for that Pip, and the coconut would have to be on a piece of creeper
For me the most significant development would have to be the Merlin engine, as it powered so many different types of aircraft, everything from fighters to bombers to recon. planes. And it sounds fabulous

Ozzy

[Hagar]

And it sounds fabulous

That'll do me.

[Ambassador]

That'll do me.

Same here.

[Woodlouse2002]

Dear me people. I'm more with Fozzer than the rest of you. The most significant advance in flight has to be the development of the wing shape aerofoil thingy which gives lift. With out this they wouldn't work at all.

[Hagar]

Well Woody. I thought we agreed that George Cayley & others figured that out in 1700 & whatever it was.

I assumed that Pippin meant advances since 1903. OK, aerofoil shapes have been modified over the years & are now extremely efficient. I think this was a gradual development with no big breakthrough involved.

[Woodlouse2002]

Oh, in the last centuary, right. This shall take some thinking...

In that case. I nominate ailerons. I some how feel that they are much more responsive than the wing warping that the wright brothers used.

[Polynomial]

probably the dramatic increase in the safety of aircraf which led to the widespread commercial use of them.

[Hagar]

You might well be right. I seem to have some notion rattling round in my single remaining marble that wing-warping is now back in fashion. Maybe Felix can elaborate.

Strange how the old ideas sometimes turn out best after all. I recall something about all-moving tailplanes & supersonic flight. The idea had been used back in the very early days & discarded in favour of elevators. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/AVbleriot.htm

I was told the latest turbofan engines are remarkably similar to the original Whittle design.