Air Travel

Prominent Personalities and Events that figure the development of Air Transportation
George Cayley is considered as the father of aviation. His most significant contribution to aviation is the concept of modern airplane. Cayley identified the two important laws of science in that govern the flight of an airplane. He explained the drag vector and the lift vector. It was the concept that benefited and influenced all aviators that came after him.

Otto Lilienthal brilliant German aviator. He chalked up a record number of glider flights which led him to write his observations and experiences in a book called Birdflight that later became very important reference among aviators . The design and concepts made by Lilienthal in his book greatly influenced aeronautical designers including the Wright Brothers and other early aviators

Samuel Langley came up with aerodromes (airports) driven by . steam engines and fuel engines and flew them successfully. But the aerodromes built are only scale models in size. When the full version of an aerodrome was built, all attempts by Langley failed. For this failure, he was ridiculed by the press until he died in 1906. The aerodrome built by Langley finally flew when Glenn Curtis rebuilt it and made some modifications. It was flown successfully at Hammondsport, NY in 1914. Orville and Wilbur Wright built and flew the first successful heavier-than-air powered, and manned aircraft. On the 17th of December 1903, Orville Wright was the first person to successfully fly an aircraft. The aircraft he used was the first aircraft that is heavier than air, powered by engine and manned. Wilbur Wright, the brother witnessed the 100-yard flight and timed the actual flight at 12 seconds using a stopwatch. The Wright brothers were the first to build a total flying machine, which encompassed all of the major aspects of a modern airplane.

Definition of Terms
Airline is a company that provides air transportation to passengers, cargoes or a

combination of both to predetermined routes. Airlines are also called Air Carriers. Domestic Airline flies to destinations that are only within the territory of the country where the airline is registered. International Airline is a carrier that can fly to destinations beyond the country of its registration. Flag Carriers are airline companies that have been authorized by the government to fly to other countries carrying the identity of their country of origin. Airplane is the vehicle or the mode of transportation used to carry passengers and cargoes. Airports are the terminals where the airline companies pick up and/or drop off their passengers. Domestic Airports are terminals where domestic carriers load and unload their passengers International Airports - are terminals which are compliant to the facilities, equipment, and amenities set by the aviation authority. International airports can accommodate international flights and have the capacity to accommodate big planes

 Airstrips are air terminals that can only accommodate small planes. Hangar - a large workshop or building for storing and maintaining aircraft. Runway - A strip of level, usually paved ground on which aircraft take off and land. Terminals where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to embark and disembark Airfield - The area of fields and runways where aircraft can take off and land. Embark To go aboard a vessel or aircraft, as at the start of a journey Disembark - to land or cause to land from a vessel or aircraft Flights are trips done by airlines at a designed time and date Scheduled Flights are the regular trips undertaken by commercial airlines. Non-Scheduled Flights also known as chartered flights, are trips undertaken similar to the concept of taxicab. Connecting Flights are trips which require consecutive trips from one destination to the other Nonstop Flights - a flight made without intermediate stops between source and destination. Direct Flights - a flight with one or more intermediate stops but no change of aircraft. Fleet is a collection or number of airplanes available to conduct commercial flights offered by the airline company. Airlines can either be owned or leased by the airline. Low-cost Airline - is a type of commercial airline that positions itself as an alternative.

Cabin Classes
First Class Cabin (Qantas Airways)

Business Class Cabin (Continental Airlines)

Economy Class (Cathay Pacific Airlines)

Economy Plus Seats (United Airlines)

Seat Configuration (Boeing 747)

Seat Configuration (Airbus 320)