LESSON 1.1 — AIRCRAFT INTRODUCTION
[ 1.1.3] Fixed-Wing Airplanes
BEFORE WE FLY — QUICK QUESTION
Why were WWI fighters biplanes?
Underpowered engines meant more wing area: biplanes generated enough lift to take off at around 70 mph.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Most First World War airplanes (like the Sopwith Camel) were biplanes because engines were not powerful enough — doubling the wing surface provided the lift needed for take-off at the low speeds of the era.
- The Supermarine Spitfire's elliptical wing minimised drag while maximising lift — combined with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, it outmaneuvered most adversaries in the Battle of Britain.
- The de Havilland Comet taught the industry a fatal lesson: square windows act as stress concentrators — repeated pressurisation cycles caused metal fatigue and catastrophic failure.