Are you a history fanatic? What about an aviation history fanatic? Let’s combine the two and explore the history of airliners. More specifically, we will look at five planes that changed the world of aviation as we know it, and how they came to be what they are today.
1. Douglas DC-3: The Father of Airliners
The DC-3 first flew in 1935, and was quickly adapted for military use during World War II. You can consider this twin-engine monoplane as the father of commercial aviation, becoming the world’s first successful commercial airline. These planes were used by earlier U.S. airlines such as American and United. Upon seeing civilian use, the DC-3 became operated by a two-man crew.
Pilots, both military and commercial, had high ratings of the DC-3. It would take off without problem, and cruised at 185 mph at 10,000 feet; plus, a ceiling of 23,200 feet and a low stalling speed of 67 mph. Pilots would say the plane would land itself! The DC3’s reliability, combined with its easy handling and smooth take-offs and landings, lead to its continued service to this day.
2. Boeing 747: The Queen of the Skies
Boeing developed the 747 in response to Pan American Airways’ need for a larger passenger aircraft to reduce airport congestion while making jet travel more accessible. Pan Am CEO Juan Trippe convinced Boeing CEO William Allen to proceed with the program during a fishing retreat.
At the time, Boeing were working on a supersonic transport (SST) aircraft, the 2707 to surpass the Concorde. The U.S. government provided funding to support the SST, although it faced engineering issues. Nonetheless, Boeing planned for the 747 to pivot to cargo use once SSTs replaced airliners.
Ultimately, the 2707 failed due to emissions and cost concerns, leading to Boeing facing funding withdrawals. However, this meant Boeing was able to supply Pan Am with the 747 for airline use. Now one of the most successful and iconic airliners in history, the 747 retired in early 2023 to allow use for smaller, but more, aircraft.
3. The Concorde: Supersonic Innovation
Concorde is a supersonic passenger transport which first saw commercial service in 1979.
The aircraft saw its first use in 1969, however, with a maximum cruise speed of 2,179 km per hour, or Mach 2.04. That is more than twice the speed of sound! That also meant a flight from New York to London would take three hours.
Unfortunately, the development cost of the Concorde was so demanding that the aircraft was never financially profitable. Despite this, the Anglo-French, delta-wing SST was proof that European manufacturers could keep Europe in the forefront of aerospace development.
4. Airbus A380: The Double-Decker Giant
The Airbus A380 was the first double-decker airliner. It’s also the world’s largest wide-body airliner and remains the only full-length double-deck jet airliner. In fact, it’s so big that only certain airports are able to accommodate it.
Development of this aircraft began in the 1990s when Airbus aimed to create competition with the Boeing 747, while also fixing the demand for long-haul flights. The A380 entered commercial service in 2007, operated by Singapore Airlines. The A380 is able to carry over 500 passengers using four high-performance engines. They opt for either the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or the Engine Alliance GP7200. These engines deliver a crucial thrust while considering fuel efficiency and noise level reduction.
5. Boeing 737: The World’s Best-selling Airliner
Last, but not least, the Boeing 737. The unique selling point of this aircraft was actually its twin-engine format. Market attention, during the 1960s, was shifting towards two-engine possibilities, which Boeing was now able to offer. Previously, aircraft like the 727 and 707 had four or three engines. In no time, the Boeing 737 became the most ordered and delivered aircraft in the world.
As of November 2024, the 737 (and variants) has been ordered 16,275 times with 11,907 being delivered. This still makes it the most delivered aircraft of all time, although Airbus said the Airbus A320 had surpassed the amount of 737 orders in 2020.
And that concludes the list. Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments! Check out another one of our Top 5’s here!
