Ryan Amarsingh

Urwt 1102-031
10/29/14
Professor Carty

How has flight changed the world?

Many things have happened to change the world in the 21
st
century, Things that have changed
the world forever, but which of these things is the most influential? I believe that the invention of flight
is the most important and influential moment in the 21
st
century. When reflecting upon the invention of
flight, it can be said that it has changed the world economically, socially, and it has happened in a global
manner.
Orville and Wilbur wright, are the two brothers that are credited the invention of building the
words first successful airplane and making the first powered and sustained flight on December 17
th

1903. This day changed history forever. The brothers made many innovations to their aircraft as they
went along, one of the most important being the three-axis control. This enabled the pilot of their plane
to steer effectively and to maintain equilibrium while in the air (Roach).
Economically, the way that flight has changed the world is outstanding. When the idea of flight
was just coming out to the public, only one person could fly at a time and for a very short period of time,
making its travel purposes very limited. After a few years of development and research the possibility of
being able to travel great distance with multiple people started to become a reality. At first flight was a
very expensive luxury that very few could afford. Only the very wealthy people could afford such a trip,
even at the start, it was more common for a person to travel long distances by ship rather than by air.
Virtually all the technological innovation in airplanes in the last thirty years has been devoted to moving
passengers more cheaply, and more safely, between major hubs (Fallows).
As stated by James Fallows, Virtually all the technological innovation in airplanes in the last
thirty years has been devoted to moving passengers more cheaply, and more safely, between major
hubs. The world has seen a huge jump in the social world since flight has become more for the average
individual person. It allows people to move freely around the world. Before these innovations, travel
was a much harder this to accomplish. 50 years ago, flight of any type was out of reach to the average
person, but now that flight has become so much cheaper, people can travel much more and do things
that were previously thought to be impossible.