Smithsonian History of Aviation Series
Von Hardesty, Series Editor |
| On December 17, 1903, human flight became a reality when Orville Wright piloted the Wright Flyer across a 120-foot course above the sands at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That awe-inspiring twelve seconds of powered flight inaugurated a new era. The airplane quickly evolved as a means of transportation and a weapon of war. Flying faster, farther, and higher, airplanes soon encircled the globe, dramatically altering human perceptions of time and space. The dream of flight appeared to be without bounds. Having conquered the skies, the heirs of the Wrights eventually orbited the Earth and landed on the Moon. |
| Aerospace history is punctuated with extraordinary feats of heroism and technological achievement. But that same history also showcases the devastating impact of aviation technology in modern warfare. The airplaneas with many other important technological breakthroughshas provided safe, reliable, and inexpensive travel for millions. Vertical flight continues to play a key role in rescue and communications. |
| International in scope, this scholarly series includes original monographs, biographies, reprints of out-of-print classics, translations, and reference works. Both civil and military themes are included, along with studies related to the cultural impact of the airplane. Together, these diverse titles contribute to our overall understanding of aeronautical technology and its evolution. |
| Associate Series Editor: Michael Gorn, historian |
| Advisory Board: Horst Boog, historian, Germany; Tom D. Crouch, National Air and Space Museum; Carl-Fredrik Geust, independent scholar, Finland; John T. Greenwood, Center for Miltary History; R. Cargill Hall, NRO Historian; Roger D. Launius, chief historian, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Felix Lowe, publisher, South Carolina; Howard McCurdy, American University; Stephen McFarland, Auburn University; John H. Morrow Jr., University of Georgia; Richard J. Overy, King's College, London; Dominick Pisano, National Air and Space Museum; Robert van der Linden, National Air and Space Museum; Kenneth Werrell, Radford University; Christine White, Pennsylvania State University; Robert Wohl, University of California at Los Angeles |
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The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials ANSI Z39.48-1984.