The Greatest Contribution to Aviation During the Golden Age of Aviation
The greatest contribution to aviation from the golden age was the introduction of new aircraft designs. Before the golden age, big name manufacturers like Boeing mainly manufactured biplanes. Not only were these aircraft structurally unsound, they also produced a lot of drag. As a result, larger and heavier engines were needed. The golden age of aviation, however, changed everything with the introduction of the monoplane.
The low drag produced by these aircraft structures meant that with the same propulsion systems, the aircraft could fly at higher speeds. In the years that followed, monoplanes proved their tactical and strategic value through the battles they fought in the wars. It should be noted that though jet engines have also had significant impact, they would have never been as successful without the invention of the monoplane.
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Contributions to Stealth Aircraft Technology with the Design and Manufacturing of the Lockheed SR-71
As an aircraft that flies at Mach 3 at an altitude of 80,000ft, the Blackbird’s first contribution came in the form of the high temperature radar absorbing materials. The second contribution came in the general planform for the aircraft to reduce its radar cross-section (Merlin, 2009). Like its successors (Joint Strike Fighters), the blackbird avoided sharp corners that could reflect radar signals.
However, the biggest (and yet to be replicated) feat was the design and development of the its engines: Pratt & Whitney J58 incorporated inside the wings. These engines demonstrate that full stealth does not mean low radar visibility (Merlin, 2009). Instead, it also includes a propulsion system to fly the aircraft at different flight regimes, from subsonic to high supersonic speeds above Mach 2.
References
Merlin, P. (2009, January). Design and development of the blackbird: Challenges and lessons learned. In 47th AIAA aerospace sciences meeting including the new horizons forum and aerospace exposition (p. 1522).
