aerospace industry

Table of Contents

Introduction
Character of the industry
History
- The first decade
- World War I
- Between the wars
- World War II
- The advent of jets and missiles
- The space age
- Growth of the aircraft industry
- Cooperation and consolidation in a global economy
  - Internationalization
  - Mergers and divestitures
Aerospace products, manufacturers, and markets
- Civil aircraft
  - General aviation aircraft
  - Commercial heavy aircraft
- Military aircraft
- Helicopters
- Uncrewed aerial vehicles
- Missiles
- Space launchers
- Spacecraft
- Airships
- Secondary and tertiary aerospace systems
  - Propulsion
  - Avionics
  - Other secondary systems
  - Tertiary systems
Industry processes
- Research
- Product development and testing
  - Design methods
  - Use of computers
  - Wind-tunnel testing
  - Prototype testing and certification
  - Spacecraft, launch vehicle, and missile development
- Manufacturing
  - Historical context
  - Fabrication processes and materials
    - Working of materials
    - Special requirements of military aircraft
    - Engine and avionics manufacture
    - Satellite, launch vehicle, and missile manufacture
  - Assembly methods and facilities
    - Building of subassemblies
    - Final assembly
    - Verification
  - Lean manufacturing
- Maintenance
  - Inspection technologies
  - Airframe and engine overhaul
  - Remanufacture and upgrading

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

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first flight by Orville Wright, December 17, 1903

Orville Wright: flight of the first military airplane, 1909

Junkers J-1 prototype, 1915

William E. Boeing, 1929

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aerospace industry: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	aircraft industry

Photos and Videos

Assembly of the Boeing 787

first flight by Orville Wright, December 17, 1903

Junkers J-1 prototype, 1915

William E. Boeing, 1929

Mitsubishi Zero

Orville Wright: flight of the first military airplane, 1909

Watch the launch and booster separation of Gemini spacecraft as it is lifted off the ground by a Titan II rocket

C-5A: wing vortice test

C-17 Globemaster III

space shuttle: Takeoff and landing

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Topics

airline Avion Corporation De Havilland Aircraft Company spaceflight aviation aerospace telemetry industry construction printing textile pharmaceutical industry chemical industry automotive industry electronics explosive food preservation dye

Key People

Mary Golda Ross

Mary Golda Ross

Native American engineer

Raymond Loewy.

Raymond Loewy

American industrial designer

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Richard Ten Eyck

American industrial designer

James Smith McDonnell

American businessman