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The surprising history of aviation: How did the first pressurized airplane come about?
The development of air travel has allowed us to quickly cross borders and continents. To create safety and comfort in a high-altitude flight environment, the aircraft's pressurization system plays a key role. A pressurized cabin injects processed air into the aircraft cabin to prevent physiological problems caused by low external air pressure.
In the 1920s and 1930s, pressurized systems began to enter the experimental stage. The first commercial aircraft with pressurized cabins entered service in the 1940s, and the British de Havilland Comet in the 1950s marked the widespread use of this technology. However, in 1954, two catastrophic failures of Messiah jets caused a global grounding. Investigations into these incidents found that the root cause of the problem was metal fatigue and airframe surface stresses caused by pressurization. This series of crises prompted aircraft engineers to conduct large-scale testing, which ultimately led to a significant improvement in the safety of the new generation of jet aircraft.
The need for pressurized cabins becomes increasingly important as flights exceed 10,000 feet, as low air pressure poses substantial physiological threats to crew and passengers.
When the plane flies over 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), passengers are required to wear oxygen masks to prevent problems caused by lack of oxygen. In commercial aircraft, cabin air pressure needs to be maintained below 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) to prevent altitude sickness and other physiological discomforts.
Interestingly, supersonic passenger aircraft like the Concorde must consider its special pressurization requirements because it can reach a flight altitude of 60,000 feet (18,288 meters), which also requires further strengthening of the airframe design.
In 1988, the accident that occurred on Aloha Air Flight 243 was because the aircraft was being used in a manner it should not be operating, causing the cabin to rupture and putting passengers in danger.
In order to improve passenger comfort, several modern commercial aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 XWB, have begun to focus on lowering the normal operating altitude in the cabin and increasing humidity. These practices have been achieved through the use of composite fuselage designs. accomplish.
Necessity of pressurized cabin
At altitudes of 10,000 feet or above, passengers may be at risk for a variety of physiological problems, which is the original intention of the pressurized cabin design. For U.S. private jets, crew members are required to use oxygen masks when the cabin altitude exceeds 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) for more than 30 minutes.
As altitude increases, so does the risk of hypoxia and altitude sickness. Such physiological problems can lead to slow thinking, blurred vision and even loss of consciousness during flight. These problems can be alleviated by supplemental oxygen, such as wearing an oxygen mask or nasal cannula.
In an aircraft such as the Boeing 767, when it flies to 37,000 feet, the cabin altitude is usually maintained at about 7,000 feet, providing passengers with a comfortable flight environment.
Evolution of cabin pressure technology
One of the earliest pressurized systems was the Packard-Le Père LUSAC-11, which debuted in 1920 and although the technology was not yet complete at the time, it laid the foundation for subsequent aircraft designs. However, it wasn't until 1938 that the Boeing 307 Stratoliner actually entered commercial service, marking a new era of pressurized aircraft.
As the demand for pressurized aircraft increases, major airlines have also begun to increase investment in this technology. Especially after World War II, with the advancement of aviation technology, the improvement of the pressurization system made flying safer and more convenient.
Future Outlook
With further innovation in aviation technology, future aircraft pressurization systems may be more intelligent and environmentally friendly, especially in response to the physiological needs of high-altitude flights, providing better comfort and health protection. With the advancement of design and material technology, future flights will bring unprecedented experiences. This makes people think: With the advancement of aviation technology, what surprises will future leaps bring?
