A heavier than air flying machine - aka: an 'airplane' ;)

The M.52 had absolutely nothing to do with the X-1 I'm afraid. A myth that is widely spread unfortunately. See my post at http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...1-again-3.html

If you amalgamate Fox 3's top 2/3 with Roadster's I think you have your answer.

Interesting that arguably no jet fighter has changed the world. Even in the case of the Spitfire and Hurricane, you have fighters that took part in world determining events...but were actually merely a stepping stone in the line of thought that you could mount air to air and air to mud weaponry on a tactical size aircraft. I'd probably admit the P-51D managed it...'Now the bomber genuinely will always get through because we've got OCA all the way there and back'.

Plenty of aircraft can lay claim to dramatically increasing the capability shown by something else that had already changed the world, without changing the world in so doing.

Chinook is a great example. Absolutely staggering capability but no world changer. As has already been pointed out. The world changer was the ability to move troops and materiel around the battlefield without touching the ground - provided I think by the UH-1. The Chinook simply, but magnificently, exploits an already changed world.

Enjoying the British nostalgia, but considering the world outside the RAF, FAA and AAC I don't think the Bucc, Harrier family or Tornado lineage actually changed anything. Enjoy your weekends all.

Orca,
Of course, these lists depend alot on your point of view and what criteria of "change" we use.:) However, I do think that the Me262 was the "jet fighter" that changed that branch of aviation. Also, as I have said, the Tornado IDS deserves its place due to its integrated all weather, LL, nav/attack system which certainly led to huge change, IMO!;)

OAP

Anything made by de Havilland :ok:

Tiger Moth, Mosquito, Vampire, Comet, Venom, Heron, Trident ... and the Chipmunk, Beaver, Otter, Dash from DHC :)

I don't disagree with anything you've said old chap. ME-262 changed a lot within jet fighters. How ever it appeared in a world where nazi Germany was being put to the sword, and went out of service when the deed had been done. The technology was then used in a branch of aviation that has changed beyond belief, from Sopwith Pup to F-22, without actually changing the world at any point.

Still not convinced about the IDS, just seems like another bomber trying to get through to me. Having said that I think we all agree - fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots*, airline pilots**, and helicopter pilots*** make history. (If I tidy that up a bit it might make a decent quote!)

Best to all,;)

Orca.

*=plus that other chap/ chaps in the 'over seated' variants, plus ground crew and enablers.
**=plus whole set up from check in to G&T delivery team.
***=plus navigator, observer, crewman, diver...how many people does it take FFS!

Anson TX219 - certainly changed my world......hat, coat..........big grin

Hey Wander, I am guessing that you joined the mile high club in this Anson!


On serious note going back to the OP, I am not sure how the SR71 "changed the world" I have no doubt that the technology was ahead of its time and laid the path for many things to follow in materials, aerodynamics and propulsion. I say this having spent several hours in the company of Rich Graham. Without this aircraft would World War 3 have been over and done with by now?


I love the Mosquito as an example of exploiting available materials at the time and the resources (woodworkers) to build them.


TSR 2 laid the groundwork for Tonka systems according to John Forbat's book. Now this aircraft did have an impact on how we view Politics of aircraft procurement in Britain (probably not the world).


I believe Bell X1 flew only a matter of months after M52 was due to take to the air. Again Politics came to the fore. Would the world be any different had it been the other way round.


For me the Comet and hence Nimrod had the greatest impact on my life. Many hours burning the midnight oil. I must not forget the C130 or Coff would have me excommunicated from PRuNe


I think the next thing that will change the world will be Skylon.

"Planes" is a bit limiting for me.

The Montgolfier balloon that flew 120 years before the Wright brothers seems to have been a game-changer that started it all off.

But the Boeing/North American/Douglas/Grumman -built Saturn V probably had as big a global impact as any other flying machine before or since.

LZ129 Hindenburg is another non-plane that will live in infamy for a long time too.

Re the Saturn V I saw a great interview with John Young of Apollo XVI in which he was describing the tremendous shaking and vibration of the launch vehicle at lift off. 'You are reminded' he said ' that you are sitting on a machine built by the lowest bidder'.

Contemporary aircraft that WILL change the world?
 

Rather than looking at history, what current aircraft will be viewed by future Ppruners as game changers?

Boeing Dreamliner?
F-35?
V-22?

Sorry TS, none of your list.:uhoh:

OAP

I would definitely say the Vulcan didn't change anything; last of that generation, only a few dozen compared hundreds of B47 and several hundred B52.

The 707/KC135 OTOH

Also for practical and comfortable passenger flight, the Stratocruiser.

OAP, have you flown in a 787?

For a future aircraft I think it stands a chance. Ok, it has a few bells and whistles that are more glitzy than necessary and seat size and pitch is variable, but I have to say it beat the T7 hands down.

But has it changed the world?

I'd venture to say: no.

What will change the world is a quantum change in speed. Like Concorde, but for the masses. Better comfort, cheaper prices, all well and good, but not a game-changer. Concorde was quick, but inaccessible. My sole regret of 46 years of life is that I did not fly on her.

If London to New York for the masses becomes 3 hrs or better, that will change the world.

PS- Thanks for the "vote" on my list.

No, the Chinook doesn't belong there in general, but personally, it does. Then again, I don't imagine there are many people who flew Concorde that had been on a Wokka. And I was fortunate enough to fly them like other people take busses. Like I do Delta 717/737/757/767/A319/MD-88/90s these days.

I think the Harrier did; after all it seems you can't be a modern fighter without having thrust vectoring, and the Harrier was the first to prove the concept operationally, I reckon.

Few of the aircraft listed have really changed the world, not even the magnificent Concorde. I suggest the 737 and 747 qualify as they've genuinely opened up the world for ordinary people. But in 100 yrs if anyone were able to name just one flying machine from this era it would be Saturn V.

The Harrier did change the world. Without it the UK would not have been able to retake the Falklands. The political and military repercussions of that were pivotal at a delicate point in the Cold War.

FWIW, in chronological order:

Wright 1905 Flyer

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...c=w488-h302-nc
The first practical aircraft

Junkers F13

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pr...Q=w510-h289-nc
The first all metal, low wing, cantilever aircraft.

Boeing 314 Clipper

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pr...R=w497-h296-nc
The first true intercontinental passenger aircraft.

Boeing B-29

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...w=w512-h288-nc
The first nuclear-capable aircraft. Also the first with a pressurized compartment for the flight crew.

MiG-15

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...M=w547-h269-nc
Made in more numbers than any jet aircraft in history

Sikorsky S-55

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pr...Q=w444-h331-nc
The first successful multi-role helicopter

Cessna 172

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pr...J=w467-h315-nc
The most successful mass produced light aircraft ever built

Learjet 23

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...g=w452-h165-nc
The first 'personal jet' aircraft

Boeing 747

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...4=w463-h317-nc
The first and most successful wide-bodied jet airliner

General Atomics MQ-1 Predator

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pr...w=w525-h280-nc
The first successful UAV.