Early Fighter PlanesIn 1903, the Wight brothers flew the first airplane. Soon after, some countries started flying airplanes in combat.
Many countries used fighter planes during World War 1 (1914-1918).
The most famous plane of that war was the Sopwith Camel. The Sopwith Camel was a single-engine biplane. Biplane have two sets of wings.
The camel could reach speeds of 115 miles (185 kilometers) per hour.
It could fly to an altitude of 19,000 feet (5,800 meters).
Toward the end of the war, the Lockheed Corporation built the first jet fighter used by the U.S military. It was called the P-80.
This jet fighter plane could fly more than 600 miles (966 kilometers) per hours.
It has a ceiling well above 45,000 feet. Armament is six .50 caliber machine guns in the nose.
The pilot is protected by a bullet resisting glass windshield and by armor plat fore and aft of his seat.
Air pressure in the cockpit is automatically reduced in combat to prevent explosive decompression if a bullet hits the canopy.
The kerosene burning General Electric jet engine, which has only one moving part and required no warming period, can be completely changes in less than 20 minutes.
After World War II, the P-80 became known as the Shooting Star.
Early Fighter Planes
