Aerospace Industry
The article “Aerospace industry” by Stanly I. Weiss and Amir R. Amir describes the origin, growth and development of the sector. It is a complex industry that encompasses all manufacturing of equipment and technologies that facilitate flight within the atmosphere and beyond the space. Due to its sophistication, the industry is dominated by a few large firms and extensive international cooperation. The united states have emerged the leading supplier of aerospace products, technologies and solutions. Besides, western European countries led by France, the United Kingdom, and Germany have also become significant players in the market. Other suppliers include Russia, Sweden, China, Japan, and India. This essay evaluates the article to highlights critical factors that led to the development and rise of the aerospace industry.
Analysis
Origin and growth of the aerospace industry
The origin of the industry can be traced back in 1903 when the Wright’s brother’s successfully developed the first aircraft. After its development, the industry experienced a slow growth led by demand in the civilian sector. However, the emergency of World War 1 and World War 2 led to significant improvements in aircraft designs, capability and power (Singamneni et al., 2019). European allies acknowledged that aircraft would become essential factors of advantage in the wars. Particularly, World War 1 highlighted numerous weaknesses of the aircraft, which became the foundation of modifications and improvements of the Wright brothers’ invention. An article from BBC observes that these aircraft did not have navigational aid and pilots experienced difficulty in identifying their destinations or targets (“The fighter pilots who navigated war using a school atlas”, 2014). Allied nations produced very many engines and aircraft designs to enhance capability. These engines and design laid the foundation for the development of commercial aircraft in the future leading to World War 2.
Aerospace products manufacturers and markets
After World War 2, countries had introduced advanced aircraft that were capable of ferrying heavy weapons, including the nuclear bomb, dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the American military. Besides, numerous other variations of aircraft including helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicle’s emerged. The military also prompted the development of the missile and civilian aircraft. At that time, the United States and the Soviet Union merged as the global superpowers competing in all aspect of technological advancement. The Soviet Union was the first country to useful manage to orbit the world. In response, the United States also funded numerous development projects to remain at par with the soviets (Holland & Burns, 2018). The peak of the spec race led to the moon landing using the rocket Apollo 11. Other products and equipment that emerged as a result of the technological race include the satellites, space launchers, and spaceships.
Manufacturing and production
Aerospace products are sophisticated because they incorporate numerous parts and sub-parts in the final product. Besides, aircraft and aerospace products include other support systems to guide in navigation and communication with the ground support systems. The early design was made of wood and sewed fabric frames. After world war one, manufacturers shifted to the use of lighter materials, including aluminium, which was safer and more effective. Mass production has emerged as a crucial production system used in the manufacture of parts. Modern aircraft consist of one to five million separate parts. Computers also helped in testing and inspection to ensure safety in aerospace products and design. The integration of computers in the manufacturer and assembly enhances precision (Prencipe, 2010). The high cost of the aerospace product means that manufacturers incorporate strict quality control policies to minimize chances of error.