evolution of air travel

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History of Flight: Breakthroughs, Disasters and More

By: Aaron Randle

Updated: February 6, 2024 | Original: July 9, 2021

For thousands of years, humans have dreamed of taking to the skies. The quest has led from kite flying in ancient China to hydrogen-powered hot-air balloons in 18th-century France to contemporary aircraft so sophisticated they can’t be detected by radar or the human eye.

Below is a timeline of humans’ obsession with flight, from da Vinci to drones. Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for liftoff.

1505-06: Da Vinci dreams of flight, publishes his findings

Few figures in history had more detailed ideas, theories and imaginings on aviation as the Italian artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci . His book Codex on the Flight of Birds contained thousands of notes and hundreds of sketches on the nature of flight and aerodynamic principles that would lay much of the early groundwork for—and greatly influence—the development of aviation and manmade aircraft.

November 21, 1783: First manned hot-air balloon flight

Two months after French brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier engineered a successful test flight with a duck, a sheep and a rooster as passengers, two humans ascended in a Montgolfier-designed balloon over Paris. Powered by a hand-fed fire, the paper-and-silk aircraft rose 500 vertical feet and traveled some 5.5 miles over about half an hour. But in an 18th-century version of the space race, rival balloon engineers Jacques Alexander Charles and Nicholas Louis Robert upped the ante just 10 days later. Their balloon, powered by hydrogen gas, traveled 25 miles and stayed aloft more than two hours.

1809-1810: Sir George Cayley introduces aerodynamics

At the dawn of the 19th century, English philosopher George Cayley published “ On Aerial Navigation ,” a radical series of papers credited with introducing the world to the study of aerodynamics. By that time, the man who came to be known as “the father of aviation” had already been the first to identify the four forces of flight (weight, lift, drag, thrust), developed the first concept of a fixed-wing flying machine and designed the first glider reported to have carried a human aloft.

September 24, 1852: Giffard's dirigible proves powered air travel is possible

Half a century before the Wright brothers took to the skies, French engineer Henri Giffard manned the first-ever powered and controllable airborne flight. Giffard, who invented the steam injector, traveled almost 17 miles from Paris to Élancourt in his “Giffard Dirigible,” a 143-foot-long, cigar-shaped airship loosely steered by a three-bladed propeller that was powered by a 250-pound, 3-horsepower engine, itself lit by a 100-pound boiler. The flight proved that a steam-powered airship could be steered and controlled.

1876: The internal combustion engine changes everything

Building on advances by French engineers, German engineer Nikolaus Otto devised a lighter, more efficient, gas-powered combustion engine, providing an alternative to the previously universal steam-powered engine. In addition to revolutionizing automobile travel, the innovation ushered in a new era of longer, more controlled aviation.

December 17, 1903: The Wright brothers become airborne—briefly

Flying from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, sustained flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft. Each brother flew their wooden, gasoline-powered propeller biplane, the “Wright Flyer,” twice (four flights total), with the shortest lasting 12 seconds and the longest sustaining flight for about 59 seconds. Considered a historic event today, the feat was largely ignored by newspapers of the time, who believed the flights were too short to be important.

1907: The first helicopter lifts off

French engineer and bicycle maker Paul Cornu became the first man to ride a rotary-wing, vertical-lift aircraft, a precursor to today’s helicopter, when he was lifted about 1.5 meters off the ground for 20 seconds near Lisieux, France. Versions of the helicopter had been toyed with in the past—Italian engineer Enrico Forlanini debuted the first rotorcraft three decades prior in 1877. And it would be improved upon in the future, with American designer Igor Sikorsky introducing a more standardized version in Stratford, Connecticut in 1939. But it was Cornu’s short flight that would land him in the history books as the definitive first.

1911-12: Harriet Quimby achieves two firsts for women pilots

Journalist Harriet Quimby became the first American woman ever awarded a pilot’s license in 1911, after just four months of flight lessons. Capitalizing on her charisma and showmanship (she became as famous for her violet satin flying suit as for her attention to safety checks), Quimby achieved another first the following year when she became the first woman to fly solo across the English channel. The feat was overshadowed, however, by the sinking of the Titanic two days earlier.

October 1911: The aircraft becomes militarized

Italy became the first country to significantly incorporate aircraft into military operations when, during the Turkish-Italian war, it employed both monoplanes and airships for bombing, reconnaissance and transportation. Within a few years, aircraft would play a decisive role in the World War I.

January 1, 1914: First commercial passenger flight

On New Year’s Day, pilot Tony Jannus transported a single passenger, Mayor Abe Pheil of St. Petersburg, Florida across Tampa Bay via his flying airboat, the “St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line.” The 23-mile flight (mostly along the Tampa Bay shore) cost $5.00 and would lay the foundation for the commercial airline industry.

1914-1918: World war accelerates the militarization of aircraft

World War I became the first major conflict to use aircraft on a large-scale, expanding their use in active combat. Nations appointed high-ranking generals to oversee air strategy, and a new breed of war hero emerged: the fighter pilot or “flying ace.”

According to The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft , France was the war’s leading aircraft manufacturer, producing nearly 68,000 planes between 1914 and 1918. Of those, nearly 53,000 were shot down, crashed or damaged.

June 1919: First nonstop transatlantic flight

Flying a modified ‘Vickers Vimy’ bomber from the Great War, British aviators and war veterans John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first-ever nonstop transatlantic flight. Their perilous 16-hour journey , undertaken eight years before Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic alone, started in St. John's, Newfoundland, where they barely cleared the trees at the end of the runway. After a calamity-filled flight, they crash-landed in a peat bog in County Galway, Ireland; remarkably, neither man was injured.

1921: Bessie Coleman becomes the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license

The fact that Jim Crow-era U.S. flight schools wouldn’t accept a Black woman didn’t stop Bessie Coleman. Instead, the Texas-born sharecropper’s daughter, one of 13 siblings, learned French so she could apply to the Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. There, in 1921, she became the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license. After performing the first public flight by a Black woman in 1922—including her soon-to-be trademark loop-the-loop and figure-8 aerial maneuvers—she became renowned for her thrilling daredevil air shows and for using her growing fame to encourage Black Americans to pursue flying. Coleman died tragically in 1926, as a passenger in a routine test flight. Thousands reportedly attended her funeral in Chicago.

1927: Lucky Lindy makes first solo transatlantic flight

Nearly a decade after Alcock and Brown made their transatlantic flight together, 25-year-old Charles Lindbergh of Detroit was thrust into worldwide fame when he completed the first solo crossing , just a few days after a pair of celebrated French aviators perished in their own attempt. Flying the “Spirit of St. Louis” aircraft from New York to Paris, “Lucky Lindy” made the first transatlantic voyage between two major hubs—and the longest transatlantic flight by more than 2,000 miles. The feat instantly made Lindbergh one of the great folk heroes of his time, earned him the Medal of Honor and helped usher in a new era of interest in the possibilities of aviation.

1932: Amelia Earhart repeats Lindbergh’s feat

Five years after Lindbergh completed his flight, “Lady Lindy” Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean , setting off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland on May 20, 1932 and landing some 14 hours later in Culmore, Northern Ireland. In her career as an aviator, Earhart would become a worldwide celebrity, setting several women’s speed, domestic distance and transcontinental aviation records. Her most memorable feat, however, would prove to be her last. In 1937, while attempting to circumnavigate the globe, Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific ocean and was never seen or heard from again.

1937: The Hindenburg crashes…along with the ‘Age of Airships’

Between WWI and WWII, aviation pioneers and major aircraft companies like Germany’s Luftshiffbau Zeppelin tried hard to popularize bulbous, lighter-than-air airships—essentially giant flying gas bags—as a mode of commercial transportation. The promise of the steam-powered, hydrogen-filled airships quickly evaporated, however, after the infamous 1937 Hindenburg disaster . That’s when the gas inside the Zeppelin company’s flagship Hindenburg vessel exploded during a landing attempt, killing 35 passengers and crew members and badly burning the majority of the 62 remaining survivors.

October 14, 1947: Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier

An ace combat fighter during WWII, Chuck Yeager earned the title “Fastest Man Alive” when he hit 700 m.p.h. while testing the experimental X-1 supersonic rocket jet for the military over the Mojave Desert in 1947. Being the first person to  travel faster than the speed of sound has been hailed as one of the most epic feats in the history of aviation—not bad for someone who got sick to his stomach after his first-ever flight.

1949: The world’s first commercial jetliner takes off

Early passenger air travel was noisy, cold, uncomfortable and bumpy, as planes flew at low altitudes that brought them through, not above, the weather. But when the British-manufactured de Havilland Comet took its first flight in 1949—boasting four turbine engines, a pressurized cabin, large windows and a relatively comfortable seating area—it marked a pivotal step in modern commercial air travel. An early, flawed design however, caused the de Havilland to be grounded after a series of mid-flight disasters—but not before giving the world a glimpse of what was possible.

1954-1957: Boeing glamorizes flying

With the debut of the sleek 707 aircraft, touted for its comfort, speed and safety, Seattle-based Boeing ushered in the age of modern American jet travel. Pan American Airways became the first commercial carrier to take delivery of the elongated, swept-wing planes, launching daily flights from New York to Paris. The 707 quickly became a symbol of postwar modernity—a time when air travel would become commonplace, people dressed up to fly and flight attendants reflected the epitome of chic. The plane even inspired Frank Sinatra’s hit song “Come Fly With Me.”

March 27, 1977: Disaster at Tenerife

In the greatest aviation disaster in history, 583 people were killed and dozens more injured when two Boeing 747 jets—Pan Am 1736 and KLM 4805— collided on the Los Rodeos Airport runway in Spain’s Canary Islands. The collision occurred when the KLM jet, trying to navigate a runway shrouded in fog, initiated its takeoff run while the Pan Am jetliner was still on the runway. All aboard the KLM flight and most on the Pan Am flight were killed. Tragically, neither plane was scheduled to fly from that airport on that day, but a small bomb set off at a nearby airport caused them both to be diverted to Los Rodeos.

1978: Flight goes electronic

The U.S. Air Force developed and debuted the first fly-by-wire operating system for its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter plane. The system, which replaced the aircraft’s manual flight control system with an electronic one, ushered in aviation’s “Information Age,” one in which navigation, communications and hundreds of other operating systems are automated with computers. This advance has led to developments like unmanned aerial vehicles and drones, more nimble missiles and the proliferation of stealth aircraft.

1986: Around the world, without landing

American pilots Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager (no relation to Chuck) completed the first around-the-world flight without refueling or landing . Their “Rutan Model 76 Voyager,” a single-wing, twin-engine craft designed by Rutan’s brother, was built with 17 fuel tanks to accommodate long-distance flight.

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• Fear of Flying
• February 4, 2024

Exploring the History of Air Travel: From the Wright Brothers to Modern Aviation

Air travel has become an integral part of modern life, allowing people to travel across the world in a matter of hours. However, the history of air travel is a fascinating and complex topic that dates back over a century. From the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903 to the present day, the evolution of air travel has been marked by incredible achievements and significant challenges.

The history of aviation began with the development of hot air balloons in the late 18th century, but it was not until the early 20th century that powered flight became a reality. The Wright brothers are credited with building and flying the world’s first successful airplane in 1903, and their invention paved the way for rapid advancements in aviation technology. Over the next few decades, airplanes became larger, faster, and more reliable, leading to the establishment of commercial air travel in the 1920s and 1930s. The advent of World War II further accelerated the development of aviation technology, with military aircraft becoming more advanced and sophisticated than ever before.

The Dawn of Flight

Early Experiments and Theories

The concept of flight has fascinated humans for centuries, with early experiments and theories dating back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci. Sir George Cayley, a British scientist, is widely considered the father of aviation for his pioneering work on the principles of flight. He designed and built gliders and kites to study the properties of lift and aerodynamics.

Otto Lilienthal, a German aviation pioneer, conducted extensive experiments with gliders in the late 19th century. His work greatly influenced the Wright brothers and other early aviation pioneers. Octave Chanute, an American civil engineer, also contributed to the development of aviation with his research on glider design and aerodynamics.

The Wright Brothers’ Legacy

Wilbur and Orville Wright, two American brothers from Ohio, are credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane. In 1903, they achieved the first sustained, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air powered aircraft. The Wright brothers’ legacy is significant not only for their achievement but also for their approach to scientific research and engineering.

The Wright brothers’ biplane design incorporated several innovative features, including a system for controlling the aircraft’s pitch, roll, and yaw. They also developed a wind tunnel to test their designs and conducted extensive research on aerodynamics and flight mechanics.

Advancements in Aircraft Design

Following the Wright brothers’ success , aviation technology advanced rapidly. The development of more powerful engines and improvements in materials and manufacturing techniques led to the design of faster, more efficient aircraft. During World War I, airplanes were used extensively for reconnaissance and combat, further driving innovation in aircraft design.

Today, aviation is a vital part of modern transportation and commerce, with millions of passengers traveling by air every day. The legacy of early aviation pioneers like the Wright brothers continues to inspire new generations of engineers and scientists to push the boundaries of flight.

Commercial Aviation Takes Off

The early 20th century saw the rise of commercial aviation, which revolutionized the way people travel. This section explores the key events that led to the development of the airline industry.

The Birth of Airlines

The first airlines emerged in the 1920s, with Pan American Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines among the pioneers. These airlines were initially focused on carrying mail, but soon expanded to passenger travel.

The Role of Air Mail

Air mail played a crucial role in the development of commercial aviation. In 1925, the Kelly Act authorized the US Post Office to contract with private airlines to carry mail, which provided a reliable source of revenue for airlines. By the mid-1930s, air mail accounted for over half of all airline revenue.

The Impact of World War II

World War II had a significant impact on the airline industry. During the war, airlines played a vital role in transporting troops and supplies. After the war, the airline industry experienced rapid growth as demand for air travel increased.

In conclusion, the development of commercial aviation was a significant milestone in the history of transportation. The birth of airlines, the role of air mail, and the impact of World War II all played a crucial role in the development of the airline industry. Today, air travel is an integral part of modern life, connecting people and places around the world.

The Jet Age and Beyond

Introduction of Jet Aircraft

The Jet Age, which began in the late 1950s, revolutionized air travel. The introduction of jet aircraft made it possible to travel faster and farther than ever before. The first commercial jet airliner was the de Havilland Comet, which entered service in 1952. However, the Comet suffered from a number of design flaws and safety issues, which led to a series of accidents and the eventual withdrawal of the aircraft from service.

The Rise of Jumbo Jets

In the late 1960s, Boeing introduced the 747, the first jumbo jet, which could carry up to 500 passengers. The 747 quickly became the flagship of many airlines and helped to make air travel more affordable and accessible to the masses. The success of the 747 also spurred competition from other aircraft manufacturers, such as Airbus, which introduced its own jumbo jet, the A380, in 2007.

Technological Innovations

The Jet Age also brought about a number of technological innovations in the aviation industry. One of the most significant was the development of the jet engine, which allowed aircraft to fly faster and higher than ever before. Other innovations included advances in navigation and communication systems, as well as improvements in aircraft design and materials.

Today, air travel continues to evolve and improve, with new technologies and innovations constantly being developed. From the early days of the Jet Age to the present day, commercial airliners have played a crucial role in connecting people and cultures around the world.

Air Travel Evolution

Air travel has come a long way since the Wright Brothers’ first flight in 1903. Over the years, there have been numerous advancements in technology, safety, and regulation that have transformed the flying experience. This section will explore some of the key changes that have occurred in air travel over the years.

Changes in Passenger Experience

The evolution of air travel has brought about significant changes in the passenger experience. In the early days of air travel, passengers were few, and the experience was luxurious. However, with the growth of air travel, airlines have had to adapt to cater to the needs of a larger and more diverse customer base.

Today, passengers enjoy a range of amenities, from in-flight entertainment to comfortable seating. The introduction of budget airlines has also made air travel more accessible to a wider audience.

Safety and Regulation Developments

Safety has always been a top priority in air travel, and over the years, there have been significant developments in this area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was established in 1958 to oversee the safety of air travel in the United States. Since then, there have been numerous advancements in safety technology, including the introduction of black boxes, which record flight data and voice recordings.

Regulation has also played a significant role in the evolution of air travel. The FAA sets standards for everything from pilot training to aircraft maintenance, ensuring that air travel remains safe and reliable.

Environmental Considerations

With the growth of air travel, there has been increasing concern about the environmental impact of flying. The aviation industry has responded by investing in new technologies to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in sustainable aviation fuel, which is made from renewable sources. Airlines are also exploring the use of electric and hybrid planes, which could significantly reduce emissions in the future.

Overall, the evolution of air travel has been driven by a combination of technological advancements, safety and regulation developments, and environmental considerations. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for air travel.

Modern Aviation Industry

Current Airline Market

The aviation industry has undergone significant changes over the years, and the current airline market is no exception. Today, the airline market is highly competitive, with numerous airlines vying for a share of the market. The industry is dominated by a few large players, but there are also many smaller airlines that cater to niche markets.

One of the biggest challenges facing airlines today is rising fuel costs. To remain competitive, many airlines have had to adopt new strategies to reduce fuel consumption, such as investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft and optimizing flight routes to minimize fuel consumption.

Role of Air Traffic Controllers

Air traffic controllers play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of commercial flights. They are responsible for managing the flow of air traffic, communicating with pilots, and providing guidance in case of emergencies.

The job of an air traffic controller is highly demanding and requires specialized training and expertise. They must remain alert and focused at all times, as even a small mistake could have serious consequences.

Future Trends in Aviation

The aviation industry is constantly evolving, and there are several trends that are likely to shape its future. One of the most significant trends is the development of electric and hybrid aircraft, which could significantly reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.

Another trend is the increasing use of automation in aircraft, which could improve safety and efficiency. However, this trend also raises concerns about job loss among pilots and other aviation professionals.

Overall, the future of the aviation industry looks promising, with new technologies and innovations likely to drive growth and change. However, it is important for the industry to remain vigilant and adaptable in the face of new challenges and opportunities.

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How Technology is Redefining Flight Safety: What Air Travel will look like in the future

First Flight: How Wright Brothers Changed the World

One hundred years ago today, a machine carrying a person made a brief and wobbly flight. As Wilbur Wright watched his brother Orville guide their flying machine into the air, the past and the future separated and the world started shrinking.

Thursday, December 17, 1903, dawned windy and cold on North Carolina's Outer Banks. At Kill Devil Hills, the thermometer hovered around the freezing mark, and a 25-mile-per-hour (40-kilometer-per-hour) wind blowing out of the north made it feel even colder.

Orville and Wilbur Wright had a few doubts about whether this was a good day to try to get their flying machine off the ground. They'd had one setback three days earlier when Wilbur lost control of the craft as he was trying to take off, damaging a wing.

It had taken them a day to repair the damage and get ready to try again, but on December 16 the winds had died to almost nothing and they decided to wait another 24 hours in hopes it would pick back up. Now, with the wind blowing at a strength that could cause them problems trying to control the flyer, they pondered whether to pack it in for the season and come back next year to resume their efforts.

But they didn't want to go back home to Ohio without knowing once and for all whether this design was going to work. So they decided that this day was as good as any to give it one more shot.

The Wrights hauled their wood-metal-and-muslin flyer—which resembled a box kite with propellers—out of its hangar and hoisted a red flag at their camp to signal the nearby U.S. Lifesaving Station that they'd like some help getting the flyer into position.

The modest, hardworking Midwesterners had formed a bond with the taciturn inhabitants of the remote, sparsely populated islands, and they'd had no trouble recruiting willing helpers in the years they'd been coming to the Outer Banks to develop their flyer.

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On December 17, crewmen John Daniels, Will Dough, and Adam Etheridge came over from the Lifesaving Station. W.C. Binkley of Manteo and Johnny Moore, a teenager from Nags Head, also showed up to lend a hand.

These five men would witness an event that would change the world forever.

In December 1903, the industrialized world moved at the speed of a steam engine, and lots of people thought that was fast enough. A few months earlier a smug American scientist claimed to have proven that a powered aircraft would never fly, despite the dogged efforts of several would-be aviators besides the Wright Brothers. The scientist's opinion seemed to be confirmed a little later when a motorized flyer designed by Samuel Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, plunged into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., as its pilot tried to get it into the air.

Men wore bushy handlebar moustaches and stiff, high-necked collars in 1903 and wouldn't have stepped outside without donning a derby or perhaps a top hat. Women wore high-button shoes and ankle-length skirts, and no self-respecting female would dare go out in public unless her hair was properly pinned up and she had a hat on her head.

In 1903, a nickel had the same purchasing power as a dollar bill would have a century later.

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That was the world the Wright Brothers changed.

The Wrights and their five accomplices pulled the flying machine from the hangar to a specially designed wooden track the brothers had built to launch the flyer. They cranked up the four-cylinder gasoline engine that had been especially designed and built for the flying machine. Orville, at 32 the younger of the pair, was at the controls. Wilbur had won the toss of a coin to see who would go first a few days earlier, the 14th of December—but the initial attempt had failed and the flyer was damaged without leaving the ground.

The Wrights stationed John Daniels at the Korona V camera they'd brought along to document their flying experiments. They'd chosen an excellent instrument to record their work. The big Korona, which the brothers had mounted on a tripod, looked cumbersome and unwieldy but it was one of the best cameras of that era.

A few minutes past 10:30 a.m. Orville climbed onto the lower wing of the flyer, lay stomach-down across it and grasped the controls. True to the no-nonsense demeanor of his times, he wore a dark suit, a white shirt with a stiff collar, a necktie and a cap.

Wilbur, dressed almost identically to his brother, stood by holding the tip of the lower right wing, ready to steady the flying machine as it moved down the wooden track. He turned to look at the five witnesses and was dismayed to see the glum expressions on the faces of the stoic islanders. Above the noise of the puttering engine, Wilbur asked the somber men to "not look so sad" and to "laugh and holler and clap" and "try to cheer Orville up when he starts."

At 10:35 a.m. Orville released a wire that held the flying machine to the track, and the contraption chugged slowly forward into the stiff wind. Wilbur trotted alongside, holding the wing to keep the flyer level. Then the flying machine lifted off the track, and Wilbur let go. The reserved witnesses managed a feeble cheer as the flyer left the ground, and at exactly the right moment, John Daniels squeezed the shutter bulb on the Korona V and captured a black-and-white photograph that will be forever engraved in human history.

It's hard to overstate the importance of that moment because, as Wilbur Wright watched his brother guide their flying machine into the air, the past and the future separated and the world started shrinking. Left behind were weeks-long trips across the U.S. and months-long crossings of the Atlantic Ocean. Ahead lay transcontinental trips of less than a day, and eventually even the oceans would be crossed in a few hours. And then, one summer day a mere 66 years later, men would fly to the moon and walk around on it.

Orville's first flight was wobbly and brief. The flyer darted up and down as he tried to figure out how to keep it under control. He didn't want to push his luck. After about 12 seconds in the air, he brought the flyer to a landing about 120 feet (36 meters) from where he'd started.

It didn't seem like much of an accomplishment, but the brothers were elated. "It was…the first time in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it had started," Wilbur said later.

Alternating as pilots, the brothers made three more flights. Around noon, Wilbur made a flight of 852 feet (260 meters) that lasted 59 seconds—the longest of the day. But the flying machine was slightly damaged by Wilbur's landing, and the group hauled it back to the hangar for repairs.

They were discussing Wilbur's flight when a gust of wind seized the flyer. The men grabbed it and tried to hold it down, but the wind slowly turned it over a couple times. John Daniels stubbornly hung on as the flyer overturned and so he was flung about, banging against the engine and propeller chains.

When the flying machine finally stopped flipping, he was bruised and scraped but otherwise not hurt. For the rest of his life, he would take great delight in saying he'd survived the world's first plane crash.

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NOTIFICATIONS

A progression of flight – timeline.

• + Create new collection

Use this timeline to find out some highlights in the progression of flight in human history.

1000 BCE – First kites

Kites are invented in China.

852 BCE – A king tries to fly

The English King Bladud is apparently killed attempting to fly.

1485–1500 – da Vinci designs planes

Leonardo da Vinci designs flying machines.

Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine

Leonardo da Vinci made many drawings of wings and flying machines in the late 1400s. He kept them hidden, and they weren’t discovered until 400 years after his death.

Sketch dated 1488.

1709 – Model glider design

Bartolomeu Laurenço de Gusmao designs a model glider.

1783 – Hot air balloon flight

The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was on 21 November 1783 in Paris, France in a balloon created by the Montgolfier brothers.

1843 – Biplane design

George Cayley’s biplane design is published.

1895 – Biplane gliders

Otto Lilienthal flies biplane gliders.

1903 – First powered flight

Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first recorded powered, sustained and controlled flight in a heavier-than-air flying machine.

1904 – First powered flight in New Zealand

Richard Pearse from New Zealand makes his first recorded powered flight of more than a few seconds, though witnesses contend his first flight may have been just before the Wright brothers.

Richard Pearse’s monoplane

Richard Pearse’s monoplane resembled a modern-day microlight. Witness accounts suggest he flew it before the Wright brothers flew theirs. This monoplane is a replica from the South Canterbury Museum in Timaru.

There is evidence that Richard Pearse did not achieve controlled flight before the Wright brothers in 1903. See a report from the Timaru Post dated 17 November 1909. www.stuff.co.nz/national/6799761/Pearse-flew-long-after-Wrights

1906 – First powered flight in Europe

Alberto Santos-Dumont makes the first successful powered flight in Europe.

1911 – New Zealander launches glider

Kiwi aviator George Bolt’s flying career began in the South Island in 1911. Aged just 18, he launched a glider that he had designed and built himself from the Cashmere Hills above Christchurch. In 1911 Bolt took New Zealand’s first aerial photographs. In 1916 he began work as an apprentice mechanic at the Walsh brothers’ New Zealand Flying School in Auckland.

1921 – A pilot licence first

Bessie Coleman became the first African-American to gain a pilot’s license.

1927 – First trans-Atlantic flight

Charles Lindbergh completes the first solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight.

1930 – Jet engine invented

British inventor Frank Whittle invents the jet engine.

1932 – First woman flies across Atlantic

Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly a solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight.

1932–1937 – Record-breaking flights

New Zealander Jean Batten makes record-breaking flights around the world.

Jean Batten

Jean Batten was a New Zealand aviatrix. During the 1930s, she was well known for taking a number of record-breaking solo flights across the world.

Portrait by Leo Lemuel White, 16 October 1936.

1939 – First jet-propelled aircraft

Germany’s Heinkel 178 is the first fully jet-propelled aircraft to fly.

1940s – Aerial agriculture developed in New Zealand

Seed sowing, top dressing and crop dusting are developed in New Zealand with ex-WW2 pilots and planes. Ossie James, in particular, is noted for his role in this.

Early aerial topdressing

World War II Tiger Moths were among the first aircraft used for topdressing in New Zealand. Here, in 1953, a loader bucket releases fertiliser into the aircraft hopper.

1947 – Aircraft exceeds speed of sound

Charles Yeager pilots the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight.

1969 – First supersonic transport flight

First flights of supersonic transport – Soviet TU-144 and Anglo-French Concorde.

1970 – First Boeing 747 commercial flight

Boeing 747 makes the first commercial flight.

1976 – Concorde passengers

Concorde begins its first passenger-carrying service.

The turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet airliner operated until 2003. Concorde had a maximum speed more than twice the speed of sound.

1979 – Longest human-powered flight

Bryan Allen pedals the Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel, breaking the distance record for human-powered flight.

1986 – First non-stop flight around world

Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager fly the US ultralight Voyager around the world in a 9-day non-stop flight from California to California.

2005–2006 – First non-stop world solo flights

Steve Fossett makes the first non-stop solo flight around the world (2005) and in 2006 lands in England after flying around the world once and crossing the Atlantic twice – a distance of 26,389.3 miles (42,469.46 kilometres).

2009 – New glider record

New Zealand pilot Terry Delore breaks the world gliding record by 100 kilometres, travelling a total of 2,400 kilometres within New Zealand.

2011 – Martin jetpack

In an unmanned test, the Martin jetpack reaches an altitude of 5,000 feet (1,524 metres). The jetpack, invented by New Zealander, Glenn Martin, is a small flying device for one person. It was named one of the world’s top 10 inventions in 2010.

2011 – World’s first flying car

The Transition® by Terrafugia is a roadable aircraft – an aeroplane that can take off and land at any airport and, with the push of a button, fold up its wings and drive down the road.

Transition® hybrid vehicle

The Transition® hybrid vehicle has been given the go-ahead for testing on US highways. When do you think you'll see 'flying cars' in your town?

2016 – Solar flight around the world

Solar Impulse 2 is the first plane powered by a renewable energy source to tour the globe. The Solar Impulse website has further information.

2019 – Electric aircraft

In December the world’s first fully-electric aircraft for commercial flight completed a test in Canada.

2021 – New Zealand's first electric flight

On 1 November 2021 Gary Freedman flew New Zealand's only electric plane, (just one of around 30 in the world), from Blenheim to Welllington, see this Kea Kids news story on Stuff.

2023 December – New Zealand's first commercial electric plane

Air New Zealand announces it has ordered one Alia aircraft, a small commercial electric plane. It is set to start flying cargo between Wellington and Marlborough in 2026.

Find out more

Read the article People in flight history for more detailed information about some of the people featured above.

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The Evolution of Air Travel

Air travel has come a long way since the first powered flight in 1903. From the early days of propeller planes, which were slow and limited in range, the development of jet engines in the 1940s allowed for faster, higher and longer flights. With the advent of the Boeing 707 in the 1950s, commercial jet travel became a reality. This new era of air travel quickly transformed the world, as increased speed and range allowed for more efficient international travel, and the emergence of low cost carriers made air travel available to a wider audience. In the decades since, air travel has seen numerous advances in technology, from the introduction of supersonic airliners such as the Concorde, to modern-day jetliners powered by more efficient engines and equipped with advanced navigation systems. In addition, the development of the internet has revolutionized the way we book and plan air travel, making the process easier and more efficient than ever before. Today, air travel is an integral part of our daily lives, allowing us to explore the world with ease and convenience.

Overview of - The Evolution of Air Travel

Air travel has come a long way since its earliest days. From the Wright Brothers’ first powered airplane flight in 1903, air travel has gone from a novelty to a widely used form of transportation. Trace the evolution of air travel, from the early days of propeller planes to the modern-day jetliners, and learn about the advances in technology and safety that have made air travel safer and more accessible for everyone. The earliest form of air travel was the propeller plane, which was developed in the early 1900s. Propeller planes were powered by reciprocating engines, and they had a top speed of around 100 miles per hour. Propeller planes were used by early aviators, military pilots, and even commercial pilots. While these planes were an important step forward, they were limited in their range and speed. In the 1950s, the jet engine was developed, which revolutionized air travel. Jet engines allowed planes to reach speeds of up to 500 mph and fly farther than ever before. This new technology made air travel faster and more efficient, and it enabled airlines to offer services to more destinations. Jet engines also allowed for larger planes that could carry more passengers and cargo. Today, the majority of commercial air travel is done on jetliners. Jetliners are large, four-engine planes that have a range of up to 8,000 miles and can carry up to 400 passengers. Jetliners are powered by turbofan engines, which are much more fuel-efficient than traditional jet engines. Jetliners are also equipped with advanced avionics and navigation systems, which make them much safer to fly.

Safety has always been a major concern when it comes to air travel. In the early days, pilots had to rely on their skill and experience to navigate. Today, pilots are required to undergo extensive training and certification before they are allowed to fly. Aircraft are also equipped with a variety of safety systems, such as autopilot and collision avoidance systems, to help prevent accidents. The advances in technology and safety have made air travel safer and more accessible for everyone. Today, air travel is a reliable and affordable way to get from one place to another. From the early days of propeller planes to the modern-day jetliners, air travel has come a long way. With continued improvements in technology and safety, air travel will continue to evolve in the future.

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Training to Become a Pilot

The History of the Air Force

The Story of the Red Baron

Amelia Earhart

Bessie Coleman

The Story of the Doolittle Raid

Jimmy Doolittle

A History of Commercial Airlines

Dario Russo

Yuri Gagarin

The History of Military Aviation

The Wright Brothers

Steve Fossett

The Development of Aircraft Technology

Women in Aviation

Neil Armstrong

Chuck Yeager

The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen

The Development of Air Traffic Control

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The Story of the Doolittle Raid :

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A History of Commercial Airlines :

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The History of Military Aviation :

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The Development of Aircraft Technology :

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The Development of Air Traffic Control :

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What Travel Looked Like Through the Decades

Getting from point A to point B has not always been as easy as online booking, Global Entry , and Uber. It was a surprisingly recent event when the average American traded in the old horse-and-carriage look for a car, plane, or even private jet .

What was it like to travel at the turn of the century? If you were heading out for a trans-Atlantic trip at the very beginning of the 20th century, there was one option: boat. Travelers planning a cross-country trip had something akin to options: carriage, car (for those who could afford one), rail, or electric trolley lines — especially as people moved from rural areas to cities.

At the beginning of the 1900s, leisure travel in general was something experienced exclusively by the wealthy and elite population. In the early-to-mid-20th century, trains were steadily a popular way to get around, as were cars. The debut regional airlines welcomed their first passengers in the 1920s, but the airline business didn't see its boom until several decades later. During the '50s, a huge portion of the American population purchased a set of wheels, giving them the opportunity to hit the open road and live the American dream.

Come 1960, airports had expanded globally to provide both international and domestic flights to passengers. Air travel became a luxury industry, and a transcontinental trip soon became nothing but a short journey.

So, what's next? The leisure travel industry has quite a legacy to fulfill — fancy a trip up to Mars , anyone? Here, we've outlined how travel (and specifically, transportation) has evolved over every decade of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The 1900s was all about that horse-and-carriage travel life. Horse-drawn carriages were the most popular mode of transport, as it was before cars came onto the scene. In fact, roadways were not plentiful in the 1900s, so most travelers would follow the waterways (primarily rivers) to reach their destinations. The 1900s is the last decade before the canals, roads, and railway plans really took hold in the U.S., and as such, it represents a much slower and antiquated form of travel than the traditions we associate with the rest of the 20th century.

Cross-continental travel became more prevalent in the 1910s as ocean liners surged in popularity. In the '10s, sailing via steam ship was the only way to get to Europe. The most famous ocean liner of this decade, of course, was the Titanic. The largest ship in service at the time of its 1912 sailing, the Titanic departed Southampton, England on April 10 (for its maiden voyage) and was due to arrive in New York City on April 17. At 11:40 p.m. on the evening of April 14, it collided with an iceberg and sank beneath the North Atlantic three hours later. Still, when the Titanic was constructed, it was the largest human-made moving object on the planet and the pinnacle of '10s travel.

The roaring '20s really opened our eyes up to the romance and excitement of travel. Railroads in the U.S. were expanded in World War II, and travelers were encouraged to hop on the train to visit out-of-state resorts. It was also a decade of prosperity and economic growth, and the first time middle-class families could afford one of the most crucial travel luxuries: a car. In Europe, luxury trains were having a '20s moment coming off the design glamour of La Belle Epoque, even though high-end train travel dates back to the mid-1800s when George Pullman introduced the concept of private train cars.

Finally, ocean liners bounced back after the challenges of 1912 with such popularity that the Suez Canal had to be expanded. Most notably, travelers would cruise to destinations like Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Cue "Jet Airliner" because we've made it to the '30s, which is when planes showed up on the mainstream travel scene. While the airplane was invented in 1903 by the Wright brothers, and commercial air travel was possible in the '20s, flying was quite a cramped, turbulent experience, and reserved only for the richest members of society. Flying in the 1930s (while still only for elite, business travelers) was slightly more comfortable. Flight cabins got bigger — and seats were plush, sometimes resembling living room furniture.

In 1935, the invention of the Douglas DC-3 changed the game — it was a commercial airliner that was larger, more comfortable, and faster than anything travelers had seen previously. Use of the Douglas DC-3 was picked up by Delta, TWA, American, and United. The '30s was also the first decade that saw trans-Atlantic flights. Pan American Airways led the charge on flying passengers across the Atlantic, beginning commercial flights across the pond in 1939.

1940s & 1950s

Road trip heyday was in full swing in the '40s, as cars got better and better. From convertibles to well-made family station wagons, cars were getting bigger, higher-tech, and more luxurious. Increased comfort in the car allowed for longer road trips, so it was only fitting that the 1950s brought a major expansion in U.S. highway opportunities.

The 1950s brought the Interstate system, introduced by President Eisenhower. Prior to the origination of the "I" routes, road trippers could take only the Lincoln Highway across the country (it ran all the way from NYC to San Francisco). But the Lincoln Highway wasn't exactly a smooth ride — parts of it were unpaved — and that's one of the reasons the Interstate system came to be. President Eisenhower felt great pressure from his constituents to improve the roadways, and he obliged in the '50s, paving the way for smoother road trips and commutes.

The '60s is the Concorde plane era. Enthusiasm for supersonic flight surged in the '60s when France and Britain banded together and announced that they would attempt to make the first supersonic aircraft, which they called Concorde. The Concorde was iconic because of what it represented, forging a path into the future of aviation with supersonic capabilities. France and Britain began building a supersonic jetliner in 1962, it was presented to the public in 1967, and it took its maiden voyage in 1969. However, because of noise complaints from the public, enthusiasm for the Concorde was quickly curbed. Only 20 were made, and only 14 were used for commercial airline purposes on Air France and British Airways. While they were retired in 2003, there is still fervent interest in supersonic jets nearly 20 years later.

Amtrak incorporated in 1971 and much of this decade was spent solidifying its brand and its place within American travel. Amtrak initially serviced 43 states (and Washington D.C.) with 21 routes. In the early '70s, Amtrak established railway stations and expanded to Canada. The Amtrak was meant to dissuade car usage, especially when commuting. But it wasn't until 1975, when Amtrak introduced a fleet of Pullman-Standard Company Superliner cars, that it was regarded as a long-distance travel option. The 235 new cars — which cost $313 million — featured overnight cabins, and dining and lounge cars.

The '80s are when long-distance travel via flight unequivocally became the norm. While the '60s and '70s saw the friendly skies become mainstream, to a certain extent, there was still a portion of the population that saw it as a risk or a luxury to be a high-flyer. Jetsetting became commonplace later than you might think, but by the '80s, it was the long-haul go-to mode of transportation.

1990s & 2000s

Plans for getting hybrid vehicles on the road began to take shape in the '90s. The Toyota Prius (a gas-electric hybrid) was introduced to the streets of Japan in 1997 and took hold outside Japan in 2001. Toyota had sold 1 million Priuses around the world by 2007. The hybrid trend that we saw from '97 to '07 paved the way for the success of Teslas, chargeable BMWs, and the electric car adoption we've now seen around the world. It's been impactful not only for the road trippers but for the average American commuter.

If we're still cueing songs up here, let's go ahead and throw on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," because the 2010s are when air travel became positively over-the-top. Qatar Airways rolled out their lavish Qsuites in 2017. Business class-only airlines like La Compagnie (founded in 2013) showed up on the scene. The '10s taught the luxury traveler that private jets weren't the only way to fly in exceptional style.

Of course, we can't really say what the 2020 transportation fixation will be — but the stage has certainly been set for this to be the decade of commercial space travel. With Elon Musk building an elaborate SpaceX rocket ship and making big plans to venture to Mars, and of course, the world's first space hotel set to open in 2027 , it certainly seems like commercialized space travel is where we're headed next.

Simple Flying

How are flight prices set to evolve this summer.

Where do you plan to travel this year?

• IATA suggests the end of high-priced tickets in 2024.
• Various travel companies predict airfares to drop later in the year.
• Different global regions show varying airfare cost recoveries.

Airlines worldwide have grappled since the pandemic with increased fuel prices, supply chain issues, and airline part dramas. However, for the consumer, the most critical factor for many is when airline ticket prices are much higher than the pre-pandemic airfares we were accustomed to.

According to a report by CBC , the International Air Transport Association (IATA) hinted we may see the end of the high-priced ticket saga soon. By the end of 2024, global flights are projected to surpass 40 million, compared with the 38.9 million seen before the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To put the number of flights into perspective, this year, carriers around the globe will carry an astonishing 4.7 billion people (over three times the population of India, the world's most populated country).

Not everyone is convinced that ticket prices will fall, however. Global travel company Flight Center's corporate travel arm, FCM Travel, expects air prices to increase between 3% and 7% due to increased fuel prices, sustainability changes, and continuing spiraling new aircraft costs. Let's read through who's saying what, and what it means for your wallet.

How Airline Ticket Pricing Works

Get all the latest airline route news right here.

Lower airfares are coming

Other travel companies, such as BCD and AMEX GBT, have forecast that the cost of some tickets will drop by the end of the year. Based in Utrecht, Netherlands, BCD expects the cost of travel to Asian markets to fall nearly 3% for business and 4% in economy, while the rest of the globe could see a drop of 1%.

As we all grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, many of us are looking for ways to cut costs and only opt for the essentials. Should travel be part of that agenda, travel company Hopper expects the cost of flying in the United States to reduce by the end of 2024.

OAG, a travel data company, has weighed in on the debate, with its chief analyst, John Grant, explaining:

“There will be a continuation of the status quo, with only minor fluctuations in fare prices. Although we may see a slight shaving of fares as demand softens in the very low season, the fundamentals of a high operating costs base remain [plus] increased salaries, oil prices etc. suggest that we will not see much of a shift.”

Strong recovery

As expected, every market is seeing slightly different costs and results, so Simple Flying looked into data from IATA to determine which corner of the globe you will see the best improvement on the cost of your next airline ticket:

Due to limited infrastructure, connectivity issues, and development , this region continues to suffer and is unlikely to see positive results in the near future in terms of ticket prices.

Asia-Pacific

Domestic markets in China and India remain strong, and with the return of international Chinese tourists, the return of low fares here is projected to be achieved by the end of this year.

Continuing to see strong demand, airlines across Europe are expected to end the financial year strong despite regional conflicts hampering some operations. Ticket prices are likely to remain stable, although the fierce competition in some markets may see some routes dropping in price.

Latin America

Economic and social turmoil has hampered positive results in the region. However, the exception is Mexico, which has rebounded with a vengeance .

Middle East

With multiple strong carriers rebounding strongly in the region , namely Qatar Airways and Emirates, IATA expects solid financial performances in 2023 and 2024.

North America

Being the first region to return to profitability post-pandemic in 2022, this region remains the top contender. Air fares have been high over the past two years, but the future projections are that they will likely not rise any further, and could even begin to drop.

Want answers to more critical questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

How much can I expect airfares to drop?

According to the AMEX GBT Travel Air Monitory Report , we will see airfares across the globe reduce ever so slightly, forecasting the below savings in 2024:

With many travelers stuck at home with itchy feet, the US State Department has seen a surge in citizens looking to take flight, with 24 million passport books issued in the 2023 fiscal year. Records have also been broken in select markets when it comes to demand, with the likes of travel between the United States and Costa Rica reaching record highs, with more traveling between the two countries now than in 2019.

Airlines are responding to these patterns, with many US carriers operating 10% more flights than ever. The US Bureau of Labour published its statistics in February, stating that airfares are now floating around 6% cheaper than last year and 15% less than we saw a decade ago.

New services have also surfaced, encouraging airlines to forge new partnerships and grow their international or domestic footprints; examples of this were United Airlines' inaugural service between San Francisco and Christchurch, which just finished its first season connecting California to New Zealand's South Island , and, more recently, the announcement of plans to serve Marrakech, Cebu, and Medellín .

The Cost Of Flying: What Airlines Have To Pay To Get You In The Air

Jump to: Early Airlines     Aviation Becomes Big Business     The Modern Airliner     The Modern Airport     Air Traffic Control     Flight Attendants     World War II Begins

Commercial airlines initially struggled to get off the ground, but with help from the government, who awarded airlines contracts to deliver the mail, they soon began to flourish. Despite the Great Depression, air transportation experienced phenomenal growth and change from the late 1920s through the 1930s, before U.S. entry into World War II intervened.

As technology improved, aircraft evolved from World War I-style biplanes into sleek, high-performance modern airliners. A solid infrastructure took shape under government guidance through the Post Office and the Commerce Department, and regulatory reforms reshaped the industry. 

Passenger service took root and grew, and air routes spread across the country. But because air travel was so expensive, only the wealthy and business travelers flew. The flying experience improved but remained an often uncomfortable adventure.

After World War I, many people began to operate commercial airlines. But every one of these early efforts failed because of high operating costs. Airlines could not make enough money carrying passengers or cargo. They needed financial help—subsidies—until technological and organizational improvements could enable them to become self-sufficient and profitable. 

In order to bolster the growth of commercial air flight in the United States, the government awarded contracts to airlines to fly the mail.  

As it had with stagecoaches, steamships, and railroads, the federal government stepped in to foster a new transportation system. The U.S. Post Office began using airplanes to move the mail in order to help establish an air transportation system. Though there were a few bumps along the way, ultimately the air mail system successfully turned the struggling commercial airline business into a profitable economic power.

Aviation Becomes Big Business

With the financial support provided by air mail contracts from the U.S. government, four large aviation holding companies soon arose. William Boeing and Frederick Rentschler of Pratt & Whitney formed the first and the largest, United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. Clement Keys formed North American Aviation and the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Aerial photography pioneer Sherman Fairchild, Averill Harriman, and Robert Lehman created The Aviation Corporation (AVCO). While these consolidations promised greater efficiency, airlines still remained unprofitable without government help. 

Aircraft builder William Boeing, Philip Johnson, Claire Egtvedt, and Eddie Hubbard created Boeing Air Transport (B.A.T.) in 1927 to fly the mail from Chicago to San Francisco. B.A.T. was so successful that it acquired Pacific Air Transport. By 1931 these two airlines, along with Varney Air Lines and National Air Transport, were operating as United Air Lines. 

When Wright Aeronautical refused to further develop its successful J-5 engine, its president Frederick Rentschler, chief designer George Mead, and chief engineer Andrew Willgoos left the company to build their own high-performance, air-cooled radial. Working in the defunct Pratt & Whitney tool company building in Hartford, Connecticut, they created the Wasp. 

Reliable and efficient, the 425-horsepower, nine-cylinder, air-cooled Wasp became the preferred engine for many military and commercial aircraft, including the Ford 5-AT Tri-Motor and the Boeing 40A. The engine displayed here was the first Wasp built. 

A model of the Boeing 40A.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney's Wasp engine, the Boeing 40A could carry two passengers. Thanks to the biplane's large payload capacity and low operating costs, Boeing Air Transport won the coveted air mail route from Chicago to San Francisco in 1927 and operated the route at a profit. 

Boeing developed a larger version of the aircraft, the Boeing 40B, which could carry 4,400 kilograms (2,000 pounds) of mail and four passengers. The pilot flew the airplane from an open cockpit behind the passenger compartment.

Aviation Excites the Masses

Charles Lindbergh's famous non-stop flight from New York to Paris popularized aviation in American culture.

Charles Lindbergh gained instant celebrity when he became the first person to fly alone nonstop from New York to Paris in 1927 in his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis. 

The "Lindbergh boom" in aviation followed: aircraft industry stocks rose in value, and interest in flying skyrocketed. Lindbergh's subsequent U.S. publicity tour demonstrated the airplane's potential as a safe, reliable form of transportation. 

Learn more about Lindbergh's role in the success of American commercial aviation in this episode of STEM in 30.  

The Modern Airport

Aerodrome, landing field, air field: all described places an airplane could take off or land more than once. But open fields and parade grounds were unsuitable for the growing commercial aviation business. Without a network of adequate airports, an air transportation system was not possible. 

As aircraft became bigger and passenger numbers rose, airports evolved to keep up. Air fields grew larger, grass gave way to pavement, and terminal buildings evolved from simple structures to architectural statements of modernity. 

Custom Image Caption

The Army Air Service helped design and construct a network of landing fields for the U.S. Air Mail Service. The design they came up with was a large, square, carefully prepared grass field with weather, navigation, and communications facilities. This one is Candler Field, Atlanta, circa 1927.

Glendale, California, circa 1932. The first boom in airport construction, funded mostly by local governments, began in 1926. It was bolstered by the enthusiasm generated by Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in 1927 and his subsequent 48-state tour. Despite the Great Depression, by 1931 the number of airports had doubled to 2,000.

Union Air Terminal, Los Angeles, circa 1935. Modern airliners and increasing air traffic put a strain on airports and led to airport lighting, a national aviation weather service, radio navigation, and air traffic control. Heavier aircraft with wheel brakes made grass fields obsolete. By the 1940s, airports were building paved runways.

National Airport, Washington, D.C., circa 1941. As passenger numbers increased, so did the scale of terminals. Architects were hired to design beautiful but functional structures, which served two purposes: to impress upon passengers that air travel was safe and substantial, and to epitomize modernity and progress.

Today's airports are basically the same as they were when they were modernized in the first half of the 20th century, but over the years airport designers have had some interesting ideas when planning for the future of air travel. 

From underground airports to floating fields in the ocean, these are some of their most radical ideas. 

As the popularity of air travel grew, so did the need for better air traffic control along the nation's air routes and especially around airports. 

Airlines first developed systems to control their own air traffic. However, a series of highly publicized accidents in the mid-1930s, including the crash of a DC-2 in which New Mexico Senator Bronson Cutting was killed, highlighted the critical need for a national system. 

The federal government stepped in, and in 1936 the Commerce Department accepted nationwide responsibility for air traffic control. 

Pictured: The first control tower to use ground-to-air and air-to-ground radio communication at the Cleveland Airport.

The First Female Flight Attendant

A nurse from Iowa, Ellen Church wanted to become an airline pilot but realized that wasn’t possible for a woman in her day. So in 1930 she approached Steve Stimpson at Boeing Air Transport with the novel idea of placing nurses aboard airliners. She convinced him that the presence of women nurses would help relieve the traveling public’s fear of flying. Church developed the job description and training program for the first stewardesses.

Learn more about flight attendants

What was it like to fly?

Flying was loud, cold, and unsettling. Airliners were not pressurized, so they flew at low altitudes and were often bounced about by wind and weather. Air sickness was common. Airlines provided many amenities to ease passenger stress, but air travel remained a rigorous adventure well into the 1940s. 

Flying was also something only business travelers or the wealthy could afford. But despite the expense and discomforts, each year commercial aviation attracted thousands of new passengers willing to sample the advantages and adventure of flight. 

Noise was a problem in early airliners. To communicate with passengers, cabin crew often had to resort to speaking through small megaphones to be heard above the din of the engines and the wind. The noise in a typical Ford Tri-Motor during takeoff was nearly 120 decibels, loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss.

Compare the noise of the Ford Tri-Motor to other familiar sounds:  

• Normal conversation: 60 dB 
• Busy street traffic: 70 dB 
• Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB 
• Ford Tri-Motor during takeoff: 120 dB 
• Threshold of pain: 130 dB 
• Instant perforation of eardrum: 160 dB 

In the early years of commercial airlines, mostly pilots flew. Most early airplanes could carry only a single extra person, if any. Few passenger-carrying airlines existed, and none survived for very long. Those that did catered to wealthy travelers who could afford the expensive ticket prices. Except for the occasional hop in the spare seat of a barnstorming Curtiss Jenny, few Americans flew as passengers. 

As America's airline industry expanded rapidly so too did its capacity to carry passengers. From carrying only 6,000 passengers in 1929 to more than 450,000 by 1934, to 1.2 million by 1938, travel by airline was becoming more popular. Still, only a tiny fraction of the traveling public flew. 

Most people still rode trains or buses for intercity travel because flying was so expensive. A coast-to-coast round trip cost around $260, about half of the price of a new automobile. Only business executives and the wealthy could afford to fly. 

Flying Politicians 

As air travel became more common in the 1930s, more politicians took to the air. In 1932, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt flew an American Airways Ford Tri-Motor from Albany to Chicago, where he accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for president and delivered his "New Deal" speech. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt often flew around the country on the president's behalf. Commercial air travel still had risks, but flying grew increasingly popular with politicians, as the advantages of fast travel outweighed the real and perceived hazards. 

Flying Celebrities

Air travel was popular with Hollywood celebrities, but their employers did not consider it safe. The film studios often put clauses in actors' contracts prohibiting them from flying, especially while filming a movie. But by the mid-1930s, the studios realized this rule was impossible to enforce, and they began to recognize the economic value of flying stars around the country to promote their movies. 

Airlines benefited as well when celebrities flew. It was no coincidence that an airline's name was featured in the photo when a celebrity's arrival was captured on film.

Stranded. Six days from its home port of San Francisco, a luxurious Boeing 314 flying boat, the  Pacific Clipper , was preparing to alight in Auckland, New Zealand, as part of the airline’s transpacific service when the crew of ten learned of the Japanese attack on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941.

First commercial flight around the world

When the United States entered World War II in 1941, casual air travel virtually ceased in the United States. A tight priority list ensured that only those serving the war effort flew. As a result, aircraft flew more than 80 percent full, 20 percent higher than before the war. The military requisitioned 200 of the nation's 360 airliners, along with airline personnel. 

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Before and after: How Moscow has changed over the past 150 years

1980s: pyatnitskaya street.

Pyatnitskaya Street (June 1, 1988 - Aug. 30, 1991) / 2020

Find on map

1972: Chugunny Bridge

View of Pyatnitskaya Street from Chugunny Bridge (June 11, 1972) / 2020

1994: Pyatnitskaya Street

View of Pyatnitskaya Street (Feb. 1994) / 2020

1963: Monument to the Conquerors of Space

Monument to the Conquerors of Space during construction (1963) / 2020

1956: Main entrance to VDNKh

Main entrance to VDNKh (March 15, 1956) / 2020

1940: Worker and Kolkhoz Woman

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman. Sculpture by Vera Mukhina. (1940) / 2020

1991: View of Bolotnaya Square

Moscow streets in the late 1980s (June 1, 1988 - Aug. 30, 1991) / 2020

1880s: View of the Kremlin from Sofiyskaya Embankment 

View of the Kremlin from Sofiyskaya Embankment (1878-1883) / 2020

1970s: Rossiya Hotel / Zaryadye Park

View of the Moskva River with Hotel Rossiya and the Concert Hall (1970s) / 2020

The enormous hotel was built in the 1960s and dismantled in 2006. Zaryadye Park was built on the site.

1890s: Pashkov House

Pashkov House (1897-1898) / 2020

In 1831, a museum was opened in Nikolay Rumyantsev's mansion on the Angliyskaya (English) Embankment in St. Petersburg. In 1861, the museum was transferred to Moscow. It was installed in the Pashkov House and merged with the Moscow Public Museum.

1880s: Cathedral of Christ the Savior

View of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and Church of Praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bashmaki from the Bersenevskaya Embankment (1880s) / 2020

The original cathedral, left of photo, was demolished in 1931 as part of the plan for reconstructing Moscow under Stalin. The present cathedral had been rebuilt by 1999. The Church of Praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary has not been rebuilt.

1933: Krymsky Bridge

Panoramic view of Bolshoy Krymsky Bridge during construction (1933) / 2020

1955: Entrance to Gorky Park

Entrance to Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure (1955) / 2020

1893: House of the Merchant Igumnov

House of the Merchant Igumnov in Moscow (1893) / 2020

1890s: GUM Department Store

Upper Trading Rows (1890-1900) / 2020

1896: Teatralnaya (Theater) Square

Teatralnaya Square during the Coronation of Nicholas II (May 1896) / 2020

About the photo: The Coronation of Emperor Nicholas II Aleksandrovich and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna took place on Tuesday, May 14 (May 26 in the current calendar), 1896, in the Moscow Kremlin’s Cathedral of the Dormition.

1980s: Church of St. John the Warrior

Church of St. John the Warrior (May 1, 1984 - Oct. 31, 1985) / 2020

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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10 top-rated travel pillows for long trips

Between crowded seats, crying babies and limited leg room, traveling on long flights can be exhausting and uncomfortable. A perfect pillow makes the trek slightly easier to bear and can help you get some sleep during those travel periods. To help you narrow down which travel pillow is right for you, we consulted sleep and travel experts about what to know before shopping, plus we compiled highly rated options to consider.

SKIP AHEAD What are the benefits of travel pillows? | How we picked the best travel pillows | The best travel pillows to consider in 2024 | How to shop for travel pillows

Selected. Our top picks

What are the benefits of travel pillows?

Whether your airplane seat is too small or your bus ride endures several bumps, it may be difficult to relax on a long trip. Add noisy conversations and frequent overhead announcements and you have multiple barriers in your way to getting a good nap.

One of the main reasons people struggle to sleep while traveling — especially on international flights with time changes — is because they’re trying to sleep at a time with “low circadian and homeostatic drive” (a time when they would not normally sleep, so they’re not as tired), says Dr. Andrew Varga, a board-certified physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center . The other factor, according to Varga, is the sleeping space, which is usually cramped and doesn’t let you lie recumbent or change positions, except in typically pricey business- and first-class cabins.

“Not everyone is an equally deep sleeper, and people with any sleep issues at baseline will often have a harder time sleeping in a louder and less comfortable environment — such as an airplane,” says board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Alex Dimitriu . He noted that posture plays a big role in the discomfort we feel — and as anyone who has slept on a plane knows, “the head tends to fall off to the side or forward, which is both uncomfortable and can cause neck pain, and [can] even make breathing less efficient.”

“Sleeping upright is not at all a natural position,” says Dr. Mayank Shukla , a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City. “Our head weighs almost 10 pounds and flops around the neck when sleeping upright, leading to aches and pain with all that muscle strain.”

Experts noted that travel pillows can provide support for the neck and head, alleviating some pain and discomfort when combating an upright sleeping position while traveling. They’re typically portable, lightweight, ergonomically designed and come in different sizes to fit every type of person, plus some have additional high-tech features like temperature regulation. This is an ideal tool for frequent flyers who hope to maintain a semi-regular sleeping schedule.

How we picked the best travel pillows

The best travel pillows are ones that are comfortable, supportive and easy to carry around, according to our experts. When shopping for a quality travel pillow, they recommend considering the following factors:

• Inflatable vs. non-inflatable : You can adjust inflatable pillows to your desired firmness, and easily store them away when deflated. With non-inflatable pillows, on the other hand, you can fill them with more cushioned materials to promote comfort including memory foam and poly-fiber fill.
• Portability : Look for features like straps (that you can attach to your luggage ) or an accompanying pouch (that you can pack it down into) for ease while on the go.

select Minimize chaos on your next trip with these expert-approved accessories

The best travel pillows to consider in 2024.

Below, we rounded up a selection of the best travel pillows based on NBC Select staff recommendations, ratings and expert advice.

Best overal travel pillow: Cabeau

Cabeau evolution s3 sleep pillow.

• Straps allow for attachment to headrests
• Adjustable drawstrings
• Comes with carrying case
• Large size may be uncomfortable to some

Former NBC Select editor Christina Colizza says she loves this travel pillow from Cabeau because it prevents slouching by attaching to the plane’s headrest. “As someone who is [very tall], I’ll take all the help I can in getting some sleep while flying, and this pillow makes a huge difference,” she says. “Plus, it compresses down into a small pouch, which makes it convenient enough to schlep around airports.” The headrest attachment also makes this an ideal option for long road trips. This travel pillow comes in five colors and patterns including indigo and galaxy.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 7,652 reviews on Amazon  

Best splurge travel pillow: Ostrichpillow

Ostrichpillow go neck pillow.

• Full 360-degree neck support
• Compresses for easy packing
• Fit around neck may vary

Ostrichpillow offers a variety of unique pillow alternatives, from a napping option to a mini hand pillow . This memory foam one has raised edges for neck support and comes with a velcro strap that allows you to customize its fit. The travel pillow can also compress down to snugly fit inside the included travel bag.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4-star average rating from 1,876 reviews on Amazon

Best versatile travel pillow: Huzi

Huzi infinity travel pillow.

• Very versatile
• Bulky: can be hard to carry
• May be difficult to store

If you’re looking for a pillow with versatility, this option from Huzi may be just what you need. It’s made from a soft, anti-bacterial nylon bamboo that keeps you cool and airy as you sleep, according to the brand. The best part, however, is its scarf-like, 360-degree design — you can move and adjust the pillow however you’d like to target specific areas like your neck, back, chin and more. It can also be wrapped around your head to help muffle noise, or used as support when resting against a plane or car window.

Fill material : Microfiber | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : None | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 6,307 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for chin support: Bcozzy

Bcozzy chin supporting travel pillow.

• Stops your head from falling forward
• Good value for price
• Full wrap around can feel constrictive

Few things can jolt you awake faster than your head falling forward while you’re seated. This ergonomic neck pillow offers an adjustable front loop for chin support and a flat back to avoid pushing your head forward. It includes a snap strap that you can hook to your luggage or hang up in your car. The pillow comes in multiple colors and you can choose between various sizes ranging from kids small to extra-large .

Fill material : Polyester | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Snap closure  | Rating : 4.2-star average rating from 29,016 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for back support: SmartTravel

Smarttravel inflatable lumbar travel pillow.

• Easily inflates and deflates
• Can be used on back as well as neck
• Hand-wash only

NBC Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg says she likes a lumbar pillow for added back support during long flights. This inflatable pillow serves as both a neck and back pillow, and is designed to fit your body’s natural curves and reduce pressure on the spine and neck, according to the brand. It also comes with an expandable mounting band to easily fasten it to headrests.

Fill material : Inflatable | Machine-washable cover : No | Portable features : Travel bag  | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 1,262 reviews on Amazon

Best inflatable travel pillow: Sunany

Sunany inflatable neck pillow.

• Comes with accessories
• Quickly inflates and deflates
• Not very soft

Designed to follow the natural curve of your neck and body, this travel pillow’s ergonomic shape can soothe discomfort and reduce pressure points around your head and neck, according to the brand. You can also place your arms and head inside one of the four holes to support a sleeping position that’s most comfortable for you. It comes with a pouch for storage, along with a matching eye mask and earplugs.

Fill material : Inflatable | Machine-washable cover : No | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.2-star average rating from 6,696 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for single-side sleepers: Trtl

Trtl travel pillow.

• Soft, cozy exterior
• Lightweight and easy to pack
• Only supports one side at a time

For those who don’t find enough support from traditional U-shaped travel pillows, this uniquely-shaped option comes with a hidden inner support that can hold your head and neck at any position that’s comfortable for you. You can adjust the support to contour your neck, shoulder or jaw, while the fleece exterior is soft and machine-washable.

Fill material: Mesh fabric | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Flat design for easy packing | Rating : 4.0-star average rating from 35,371 reviews on Amazon

Best budget travel pillow: Wolf Essentials

Wolf essentials microfiber neck pillow.

Wolf Essentials Microfiber Travel Pillow

• Very affordable option
• Machine-washable
• Thickness may cause fit issues

This neck pillow’s fleece cover provides soft, thermal comfort, which is perfect for when the plane or vehicle gets cold. It’s entirely machine-washable (not just the cover) and comes with a snap closure to keep it from sliding off of your neck or to connect it to your luggage. 

Fill material : Polyester blend | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Snap closure | Rating : 4.4-star average rating from 10,911 reviews on Amazon

Other travel pillows we love

Crafty world travel neck pillow.

• No on-neck fastener

This option comes with a removable and machine-washable cover, so you can easily wash it. It’s made with a memory foam interior and a velour fabric exterior for a soft and comfortable feel, according to the brand. The pillow also has an elastic strap to help you connect it to your suitcase for extra portability. It comes in four colors — black, blue, gray and purple. 

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Elastic strap | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 5,558 reviews on Amazon

Mlvoc Travel Pillow

• Includes eye masks, earplugs and carrying bag
• Affordably priced
• Bulky; may have issues with fit

With its ergonomic, curved design for neck and head support, this travel pillow comes wrapped in a cover that is both machine-washable and sweat-resistant. The travel pillow comes with a contoured eye mask and earplugs, and can fold down to half its size to fit neatly into the included travel bag. Plus, the built-in snap strap can also latch onto your suitcase for easy portability.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 33,692 reviews on Amazon

select Whether you’re going away for a week or a weekend, there’s a highly-rated bag on Amazon for you.

How to shop for a travel pillow.

The best travel pillow is one that you find the most comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Ideally, Dimitriu recommends testing out the pillow beforehand to see whether it’s comfortable and how it changes shape.

“The emphasis for most users should be to see how comfortably the pillow lets you rest with your back to the seat and without your head falling forward,” he says. And while larger pillows tend to provide more cushioning, he noted “airplane seats are tight, and there is such a thing as too much pillow.”

Below, we highlighted two of the most important considerations when shopping for travel pillows: inflatability and portability.

Inflatable vs. non-inflatable

When going on a long-haul trip, most travelers don’t want another thing to lug around. “Inflatable pillows may allow for more cushion and can fold to a smaller size,” Dimitriu says, adding that they won’t take up too much space in your luggage. They’re also typically more adjustable — you can change the amount of air to get more or less firmness, depending on your comfort level.

Non-inflatable travel pillows include various types of filling material including memory foam, polyester fiberfill and microbeads. While the different materials can make it easier to find a more comfortable fit, non-inflatable pillows tend to be bulkier than inflatable ones. When it comes to cleaning, both inflatable and non-inflatable pillows typically have removable covers that you can machine wash or spot clean.

Portability

If you’re on a multipart journey or backpacking through Europe, for example, the size and portability of your travel pillow may be just as important off a plane as it is on it. Some travel pillows have straps that you can attach to your luggage, while with others you can fold to fit inside a small bag.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Andrew Varga is a board-certified physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center .
• Dr. Alex Dimitriu is a board-certified psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California.
• Dr. Mayank Shukla is a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City.

Why trust NBC Select?

Mili Godio is an updates editor at Select and covers a range of sleep topics including weighted blankets , sunrise alarm clocks and blackout curtains .  Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select covering skin care, lifestyle and more. For this story, Godio spoke to three sleep medicine experts to get their recommendations on how to shop for travel pillows and their benefits. She also researched dozens of travel pillows on the market that are in line with experts’ guidance.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Mili Godio is an updates editor for Select on NBC News.

The spiraling 246m high Evolution Tower is located on plots 2-3 of Moscow-City high-rise business district on Presnenskaya Embankment of Moscow river. New multi-function center occupies the territory of 2.5ha in area, 2ha of which is a landscaped terraced civic plaza, the integral part of the new city piazza, the central open public space of Moscow-City business downtown.

ivic plaza includes 10m high ceremonial stairs (leading from embankment and pedestrian Bagration Bridge to the higher terraced levels) as well as landscaped areas with green lawns, trees, water features, travellators and feature lightboxes.

Evolution Tower

Location: Moscow, Russia

Typology: High-Rise, Office, Mixed-Use

Years: Construction 2011-2014

Status: Built

Height: 246m

Design team: GORPROJECT  (2011-2015), 

RMJM Scotland Ltd 

(original concept 2005-2007)

Under the piazza levels the 2-storey retail mall connects the Evolution Tower with metro station and pedestrian bridge over Moscow river, thus integrating the new development into the large Moscow-City district, the Europe's newest and most ambitious high-rise cluster (7 of 10 highest European skyscrapers ae located here), housing over 4 million square meters of office and retail areas with associated transport and engineering infrastructure.   

The Evolution Gallery mall houses food court and 6,000m2 family entertainment and educational center for various children activities (the first center of that kind in Moscow). 

The 82,000m2 office tower has 52 levels rotated 3 degrees each floor with overall twist reaching 156 degrees clockwise. With world’s largest innovative cold-bent glazing the tower façade provides seamless floating reflection that rotates the panoramas of Moscow skyline vertically, where the reflected clouds moving up enhance the dynamic visual impact of the twisted tower, an unprecedented optical effect in the world architecture.  The Crown with supporting steel structure made of two twisted arches provides the helipad at the very top as well as the open observation roof decks at Levels 51-52 featuring the best panoramas of Moscow riverside with views towards the historical center. 

From the very beginning the developer and architects have set an ambitious task to create a recognizable and symbolic tower, the new icon of contemporary Moscow.  The sculptural DNA-shaped twisting tower symbolizes the evolution spiral with the white façade ribbon wrapping over the roof in a form of 90-degree twisted infinity symbol, which speaks of philosophical concept of evolution and celebrates the development of human civilization. From spiraling onion domes of St. Basil to the iconic Tatlin Tower concept the Russian architecture was obsessed with idea of spiral. The simple and innovative design was based on principles of twisting square-shaped floor plates with vertical structural RC frame supported by a central core and 8 columns with continuous beams and 4 spiraling columns at the corners. 

The proposed structural scheme with cantilevered continuous RC beams and cantilevered floor slabs  picking up the overhangs from the twisted floor plates appeared to be simple, efficient and economical. The complex sculptural tower façade envelope was built using the innovative cold-bent glazing with flat double glazed units cold-formed in 3D within the aluminum frame under its own weight to avoid stepping in geometry. This approach appeared to be both more energy-efficient and more cost-efficient solution in comparison to the stepped curtain wall units previously applied in some twisted unitized facades. 

The multifunctional architectural glass by Guardian significantly reduces the solar gain whilst providing the double glazed unit thermal performance equal to standard triple glazed unit normally used in Moscow to withstand harsh winter conditions. The use of innovative TWIN elevators by ThyssenKrupp saved 2 shafts within the core (10 TWINs instead of 12 double-deckers in the original concept) and contributed to the overall project sustainability with lesser power consumption per passenger. Other sustainable design features include green roofs over the retail mall and integrated coil floor heating under landscaped civic piazza levels using the return water in winter to melt the snow and ice for the safety of pedestrians. The reinforced concrete formwork by PERI, including self-climbing ACS formwork specially designed for the twisting corner columns, allowed to achieve the impressive speed of RC frame construction of 6 days per floor due to perfect site logistics by Renaissance Construction as main contractor. 

All innovative design solutions and optimizations secured the delivery of this fairly unique skyscraper within the project plan and almost within the budget of the standard ‘benchmark’ high-rise building. This turned out to be a major achievement of the design and construction teams. 

The organic twisting silhouette dominates on its background of extruded glass towers greatly contributing into the overall composition of the high-rise Moscow-City cluster. The development delivered a significant open public space on the landscaped roof of the retail mall, thus providing the perfect mix of business uses with public and social activities of the civic plaza and the mall with its food court and core family entertainment function. The synergy of that mix with large underground car-park complemented by the direct link to the metro station and pedestrian bridge as means of main public transportation secured the successful project completion with the recent entire tower acquisition. Bold shape and timeless aesthetics as added values brought by its unique architecture materialized in a commercial success of this project with the tower being fully acquired for corporate headquarters even in the context of oversupply in the Moscow office market. The outstanding quality of architecture and its fine detailing, state of the art building services and communications of Class A office Tower together with the highest level of transport accessibility  (direct access to metro station from the lobby, large car-parking, proximity to boat pier and helipads) make this property very attractive for tenants and visitors. The beautiful riverside panoramas from offices are complemented by green roof and water features of the large 2ha terraced civic piazza as the main recreational outdoor space with direct link from the office tower lobby. 

The highest quality of façade cladding, glazing, vertical transportation and MEP equipment from leading European and international suppliers provided the truly Class-A office environment with the luxury of minimalist spirit in the architecture of the new landmark on the Moscow skyline. Even before its completion the sculptural spiral of Evolution Tower, more often appearing in commercials, posters and magazines, became a new icon for modern Moscow as the symbol of its business ambitions and fast development. The Evolution Tower also became the monument to the courage of its developer (Snegiri Group) and investors, who built the great deal of trust with architects, engineers and contractors by investing their efforts and funds in a challenging adventure of designing and building the unique and innovative skyscraper for the capital of Russia. 

Evolution Reflections

Philipp nikandrov.