Argumentative Essay On Airplanes

These were very primitive, ineffective, and inaccurate. In 1915, Roland Garros, a French allied pilot, attached a machine gun to the front of his plane. This was unheard of because he needed to fire through the propeller. Many thought this was suicidal but Garros had put steel plates on the rear of the propeller blades to deflect any bullets. The unsuspecting Germans failed to evade the oncoming Garros and consequently within sixteen days he had taken down five German planes and became the first allied flying ace.

This machine gun idea was later improved by Anthony Fokker, a Dutchman. He synchronized the propeller with the gun firing mechanisms so that the bullets would fire between the blades of the propeller. By the middle of W.W.I,
People realized that potential aircraft held as a source of transportation, not only of people, but, for freight. Early on, this new found transportation was expressed in exploration. There were adventurers like Charles Lindbergh, with “The Spirit of Saint Louis”, making the first transatlantic flight and Amelia Earhart, the first woman to make a transatlantic flight. Later, airplanes were used in expeditions and, after a while, multi-engine planes were being chartered and used for expedient travel. These charters started out with private planes and their owners, putting their services up for hire. Before long, there was an industry of commercial planes providing transportation to the public for a price. Around the same time, airplanes became the new wave of transport for freight. Not only was this used for private industries, but also, was employed by the government for United States mail system. The major advantage of travel by air was expediency. Not long after, men felt a superiority in the skies and a kind of cockiness that domineered their aircraft. The risk envelope was pushed and the thrills escalated. Stunts were being performed like no one had ever imagined. Only the bravest of souls would do these stunts, which included walking across the wing whilst in mid-flight, and low flying races with automobiles. Some of these daring pilots were Ruth Law Oliver,