World changers. It’s almost easier to explain what we don’t mean by that phrase than to define what we do. We have not compiled a list of trailblazers, like the de Havilland Comet, the world’s first jetliner. Nor is this a list of airplanes that represent the greatest advances of aeronautics, such as the experimental aircraft that led to supersonic flight. Rather, we looked for craft that had an impact beyond the realm of things that fly, that reached into the larger culture and touched even those who aren’t frequent fliers or connected to aviation.
Some of our choices are individual airplanes that happened to play a critical role in a world-changing event; others are aircraft types that were so significant in commerce or in war that we could truly say of them: “These changed history.”
We were inspired by the recent book 50 Aircraft That Changed the World, and we could see immediately that authors Ron Dick and Dan Patterson had followed a wiser course: They had picked 50. We could accommodate only 10. We ended up with a list that includes some of those in the book, plus a few of our own.
The most heated debate that broke out in the course of making our selection was also the most revealing; it showed how stringent our standards were—and how subjective. It was over The Spirit of St. Louis. Some editors argued that of course we had to include the airplane flown on the first solo, nonstop trip across the Atlantic Ocean—a trip that made its pilot an international celebrity and inspired a generation to fly long distances, or at least dream about it. Months after the 1927 event, when Charles Lindbergh flew the airplane, a purpose-built Ryan, on a tour across the United States to promote aeronautics, an estimated 50 million people—42 percent of the nation—turned out to see it.
But was it the airplane that people found so inspiring, or the pilot? It’s hard to imagine that journey being completed by anyone other than Lindbergh, but not so difficult to think that he could have done it in another type of airplane. In fact, he had considered an alternative, the Wright Bellanca WB 2.
We’re sure there are readers (more than a few in St. Louis and in San Diego, where The Spirit was built) who will disagree with that reasoning, or with other choices we made. In the end, selecting 10 aircraft from so many possibilities simply became a good excuse to do one of our favorite things: talk about airplanes. We bet you’ll want to join the discussion.
—The Editors
1. Wright 1905
We knew we wanted to start with a Wright airplane, but which most deserved the title of world changer? Wright biographer Tom Crouch, a National Air and Space Museum curator of early flight, nominated the brothers’ third powered aircraft. “The 1905 was the world’s first practical airplane,” he observes.
“The best of the four flights made by the 1903 aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, was only 852 feet in 59 seconds,” Crouch continues. “With that marginal success in hand, the Wrights decided to transfer flight operations to Huffman Prairie, eight miles east of their hometown, Dayton, Ohio. They built and tested two aircraft there, one during 1904 and another in 1905.
“Over the course of those two seasons, the Wrights fine-tuned their design, stretching the aircraft to improve stability and control, enlarging the control surfaces, and improving the propellers. (The same engine, a virtual replica of the one that powered the 1903 aircraft, powered both the 1904 and 1905 models.) On October 5, 1905, Wilbur Wright flew a distance of 24.5 miles in 59 minutes, 23.8 seconds. The brothers had finally achieved their original dream: developing a practical airplane capable of remaining aloft for a significant time and maneuvering under the full control of the pilot.


Comments
How could anyone compile a list like this, and not include the aircraft that: revolutionised passenger air travel (made it profitable, long range and safe), was licensed and copied all over the world made one of the greatest contributions to the second world war of any piece of equipment, was the backbone of post WW2 air travel and freight haul, and was even operational in the Vietnam war? The DC3/C47 surely should be top of the list
Posted by Jim Trewin on May 11,2008 | 08:03PM
A previous commenter speaks about the DC3, which I support. They are still used in some parts of the world. I think that the Ford Tri Motor which launched passenger service in the 1920's and the Pan-Am Clippers that established some of the first world-wide service should also have been considered.
Posted by Rick Eckhart on May 14,2008 | 09:54AM
I applaud the A&S editors for having the guts (or lunacy?) to pick a "Top Ten" out of so many worthy aircraft. The process is as thankless as attempting to single out a favorite child from a large family. Some will bristle and defend while others cheer. The comments posted around this article may prove more interesting than the article itself! I can't wait to read on...
Posted by Karen Escalona on May 17,2008 | 10:25AM
Regarding the Boeing 747 in the ten aircraft that changed the world, the statement that "96 carriers around the world have used the wide bodies to fly 3.5 million people to their destinations." The figure 3.5 million seems a bit low, perhaps by a factor of several thousand. This is an inaccurate bit of information to find in a publication that specializes in aviation. In more of a nit than a challenge of statistics, the nice little story on restoring the Arrow Sport, Mr. Rhode is noted as having accumulated 35,000 hours with National and Pan American airlines. Technically correct but I would think that to maintain accuracy, the editor would have given each airline its proper corporate name which was National Airlines and Pan American World Airways.
Posted by Walt Coleman on May 19,2008 | 05:26PM
There are several planes missing from this list, most notably Rutan's plane which rocketed into space.
Posted by Luke Buhrman on May 29,2008 | 10:51AM
I agree with the previous posters, the DC-3/C-47 should DEFINITELY be included, as I believe it was the MOST influential aircraft ever built. One could also include the DeHavilland Comet for ushering in the age of jet airliners. Even more than that, the Comet's failure changed the way we design aircraft, with respect to metal fatigue. The Comet experience is reflected in every single aircraft designed since. Another could be the Piper J-3 Cub, for revolutionizing general aviation. Just like today there are few pilots who have never flown a Cessna 172 or 150, for years there were very few pilots who had never flown a Cub.
Posted by Alex Rudy on May 29,2008 | 03:30PM
Okay - what astonishes me is that there are no pictures of the airplanes on this story!! I know, I know, all I have to do is google the airplane name for a picture - but here you've got this cool site - and there are all those ads there all over the place, so don't tell me it's a band-width issue or something.
Posted by David M Bowman on June 7,2008 | 09:54PM
After I read this story I knew I had to post a comment. When I opened the article on line I found that first two comments had already voiced shock that the DC-3/C47 was omitted. This plane first flew for American Airlines in the mid 1930's and a few are still WORKING today; not just flying as restored antiques, but working. This plane truly led the transition into the modern era of flight. While any top 10 list will bring questions about items left off, I wondered if omission of the DC-3 and Piper Cub, a plane that was the leader of post WWII private aviation, was an effort to spark a reaction from your readers. All 10 of your planes have made significant contributions to aviation and world history, but I would only rank the Wright brothers invention above the DC-3 and Piper Cub.
Posted by Richard Beltle on June 8,2008 | 06:01PM
I would have to include the Canadian Avro Arrow as a quantum leap in fighter technology. Unfortunately scuttled by politics. Many of the engineers ended up in California working on advanced US fighters.
Posted by Malcolm Barnes on June 11,2008 | 02:43PM
Let me be the millionth person to notice the omission of the DC-3/C-47, which may be the single most significant aircraft of all time. I just flew out of Long Beach (LGB) & viewed 2 separate (and beautiful) examples on the tarmac. Other candidates: The 707 & the Vickers Viscount seemed to have had greater impact than the Boeing 747 or 314. The B-47 set the layout for many aircraft to come. The Me 262, while suffering many problems, was possibly the greatest leap forward in operational combat aircraft technology in wartime. The Mirage III/5 series, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, and the English Electric Canberra (and B-57 version) were simply the world’s best combat aircraft for many years. The B-52 may serve as a front-line combat aircraft longer than any other flying machine, unless the Russians keep flying the Tupolev Tu-95. The C-130 will probably be carrying stuff long after the last B-52 and Tu-95 are grounded.
Posted by Doug Peterson on June 11,2008 | 08:34PM
Hello, I dare to say the B-747 is not so significant. Rather choose the B-737, if you look at the future, the B-787 is closer to the 737 or the 767, rather then the Jumbo Jet. Four engines bad, two engines good is the eternal mantra, because airlines operate on maintenance related savings, rather than majesticity. On the other hand I think it should be the Tu-95, rather then the MiG-15 for the soviet mention. That giant commie bomber with its german designed windmill engines really made the USA scared and led to a huge missile and B-52 build-up. The MiG-15 was a short range fighter, which never threatened the CONUS. I agree on the Junkers F-13 choice, congrats. Here is Budapest we have one in the museum, the best condition original in the world, never used since 1921 (the occasion of a failed monarchist coup d' etat). The DC-3 was wrongly omitted, that's a shame. To choose a UAV is silly. We still don't know if that is the future. May very well be just hacker-fodder. I would never trust anything that can be remotely accessed and reprogrammed. It is just a stupid computer with wings, which has no sense of loyalty or patriotism, unlike that redneck from Texas. A computer will serve the chinese or the russians gladly if given the right buffer overflow. Thanks for your attention, regards: Tamas Feher from Hungary.
Posted by Tamas Feher from Hungary on June 12,2008 | 07:09AM
Pictures please. Re do the article. Show pictures of all aircraft and put the DC/3 as #2. If you want make it the "Top 11" or call it: The Top 10 + 1.
Posted by Bob Katz on June 12,2008 | 09:07AM
How can you possibly miss: Commercial aircraft: Douglas DC-3 Boeing 707 de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver All three are still flying after more than 50 years in commercial service. Military aircraft: Hawker Hurricane AVRO Lancaster These two carried the load during early part of WWII. Besides, you can't mistake the sound of the 4 Merlins in the Mynarski Lancaster flying over Toronto.
Posted by David Slater on June 12,2008 | 09:39AM
Sorry folks! There is a huge mistake in this list. The first airplane was the 14-Bis (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14_Bis), not this Wright Bros lie.
Posted by Roberto on June 12,2008 | 11:19AM
I would argue that the Predator isn't really an airplane; it's a remote-controlled two-stage missile. And I second the inclusion of the Me-262 - twin jet engines and 4x 30mm cannons in 1941! - and the Avro Arrow and it's amazing Iroquois engines - accelerating straight up, fly-by-wire controls and potential to hit Mach 3 - all in 1957! And at the risk of sounding redundant and repetitive, the DC-3 - an example of which I recently had the slightly scary pleasure of taking to Chichen Itza. I think the biggest mistake in your list, though, was your attempt to limit a technology that has seen such staggering advances in the last 100 years to just 10 examples :-) Still, kudos for trying!
Posted by Dale P on June 29,2008 | 07:17PM
Historically, the Spitfire Mk I won the battle of Britain. This Victory allowed for D-Day. Which airplane did more to change the world we live in? Also, the Hindenburg changed the flying machines world, its disaster dooming airships in favor of winged aircraft.
Posted by Dentarthurdent on July 3,2008 | 02:36AM
Dentarthurdent, If you were to include the Spitfire because of it's work in the Battle of Britain, then it follows that you would also have to include the aircraft that did most of the work that the Spitfire took all the glory for; the Hurricane. Anyway, you would be more interested in space travel wouldn't you? (or do you restrict your hitchiking to Earth now?)
Posted by Jim Trewin on July 7,2008 | 10:22PM
No SR71 Blackbird? Or U2? hmmmm...
Posted by jim on July 9,2008 | 08:56AM
It is obviously a thankless task to pick a top ten but even so the DC3/C47 is a glaring ommission. Transporting airborne troops and urgently needed supplies to D-Day troops, flying over the Himalayas to supply troops in the Asian theatre, the Berlin Airlift to save a whole city, and a stalwart of civil airilnes until recently. It might be American but it is a giant in the history of aviation! And then I might be an insular Brit, but I cannot but say that you have to chose either the Hawker Hurricane, the Supermarine Spitfire or the P-51 Mustang. My choice- the Hurricane; it bore the brunt of the Battle of Britain and if we had been defeated then today's western world would be different.Emotionally the Spitfire becuae it is gorgeous to behold and the Mustang protected day-time bombers. But without the Hurricane thetre would not have been the airfields to take-off from. But top ten is a real challenge; make it a top 25 to make it easier
Posted by Mike Daly on July 11,2008 | 01:24PM
You have to include the U2. It may have been the plane that help avert WWIII.
Posted by Dave T on July 16,2008 | 11:35AM
there have been only two airplanes built, concorde and all of the rest. (concorde captain and piper cub owner)
Posted by manton fain on July 19,2008 | 03:48PM
In response to Don P and his June 29th posting... the Predator is NOT a missile (curious where you got your information, it isn't correct) and I think deservedly belongs on this list of incredible aircraft due to the overwhelming impact it has had on warfare as we know it and will know for years to come. The omission of the DC3 from this list is noteworthy as its storied history was remarkable in every way The 747 has had, and continues to do so, an impact on passenger travel on a global scale, although, there were other aircraft that have lasted longer and I can see the arguement for this aircraft not being on the list. I'm sure a tremendous amount of thought went in to this list and I sincerely appreciate the efforts of all those involved. (Even if you left the mighty F-14 Tomcat off the list!) :) Thanks for the hard work in putting this together!!!
Posted by Ken on August 22,2008 | 02:25PM
When I saw the title of this post, the first plane that came to mind was the DC3. I agree with previous posters that you could not compile this list correctly without it. I also think the U2 belongs on this list. But the worst sin committed here was not having photos of each and every plane on the list.
Posted by Conibear Trapp on September 24,2008 | 08:11AM
Must add comments about the C-47 Skytrain (DC-3 military version) to further endorse the universal appreciation of this over-looked but long-lived, durable and fun-to fly workhorse -- still around and still 100% reliable. The "gooney bird" is tough, dependable and can handle rough weather, overloads and short fields. Comparable, and as resilient and even more rugged, was the larger C-46 Curtiss Commando, the "super goon". She's still hauling goods, too. Both rightfully earned reputations as bush pilot and military jock favorites, whether crossing the "hump" (Burma-China theater), carrying troops, cargo and mail in Europe (WW II), handling troop carrier/combat cargo workloads in Korea, or doing vital AC-47 work in SVN. I'm compelled to mention and compare these two "survivors" as I have many fond, although a few rather tense, memories of piloting these venerable flying machines to where we had to go.
Posted by Bob Throckmorton on September 25,2008 | 08:59PM
Before seeing you chose a Predator -which obviously I dissagree- I was thinking on "Concorde", but in fact, Concorde changed nothing finally. I would say that the "Enola Gay" B29 should not be in the list; B29s had been flying for years before, while later DC3 were for long time cheap workhorses for military and civilian use. Congratulations, you did a good job, though it is impossibel to make happy all your readers, it was a very good try. maybe in the future...
Posted by Alfredo A. Gonzales on October 1,2008 | 06:53PM
Must add comments about the C-47 Skytrain (DC-3 military version) to further endorse the universal appreciation of this over-looked but long-lived, durable and fun-to fly workhorse -- still around and still 100% reliable. The "gooney bird" is tough, dependable and can handle rough weather, overloads and short fields. Comparable, and as resilient and even more rugged, was the larger C-46 Curtiss Commando, the "super goon". She's still hauling goods, too. Both rightfully earned reputations as bush pilot and military jock favorites, whether crossing the "hump" (Burma-China theater), carrying troops, cargo and mail in Europe (WW II), handling troop carrier/combat cargo workloads in Korea, or doing vital AC-47 work in SVN. I'm compelled to mention and compare these two "survivors" as I have many fond, although a few rather tense, memories of piloting these venerable flying machines to where we had to go. Posted by Bob Throckmorton on September 25,2008 | 08:59PM Before seeing you chose a Predator -which obviously I dissagree- I was thinking on "Concorde", but in fact, Concorde changed nothing finally. I would say that the "Enola Gay" B29 should not be in the list; B29s had been flying for years before, while later DC3 were for long time cheap workhorses for military and civilian use. Congratulations, you did a good job, though it is impossibel to make happy all your readers, it was a very good try. maybe in the future...
Posted by kaitlyn on November 6,2008 | 01:05PM
Where is Santos Dumont in this book?
Posted by Martin Afonso Farias on September 21,2009 | 03:57AM