The history of human aviation spans over a hundred years, from the first manned flight of the Wright Flyer in 1903 to the futuristic spacecraft of today that shuttle astronauts and payloads to the International Space Station. Today's aircraft are constantly evolving and being upgraded. In the How It Works Book of Aircraft we will bring to life a plethora of modern flying machines, from fighter jets to drones and hot air balloons to rocket ships.
Ready for Take-Off: The language of aeronautics'Ready for Take-Off' is an introduction to standard aeronautical English and is intended for use by students and adults involved or interested in aircraft and aircraft manufacturing. The book presents the vocabulary and language forms used in English when we talk about aircraft structures, components, their functions and design.
In the autumn of 1916 the Germans began to equip with the Gotha twin-engined bomber. Of a pusher layout, these aircraft could fly at 15,000 feet, well above any contemporary fighter's maximum height. With a range of 800 km (500 miles) and a bomb load of up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), the Gothas were designed to carry out attacks across the channel against Britain. A group of four squadrons was established in Belgium, and they carried out their first bombing raid towards the end of May 1917. This 22 aircraft sortie, against the town of Folkestone, caused 95 deaths. In mid June a force of 18 Gothas attacked London in broad daylight.