Aircraft: the definitive visual history

Before 1920: Lighter than air

Pioneers

Otto Lilienthal

Successful pioneers

Profile: Blériot XI

Engine: Anzani three-cylinder fan

Military two-seaters

Great manufacturers: Fokker

Single-seat fighters

Profile: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a

Racers and record breakers

Lincoln Beachey

Great manufacturers: Sopwith

Multi-engine giants and seaplanes

Engine: Gnome 100 horsepower

The 1920s: Mailplanes and barnstormers

Private flying begins

Bessie Coleman

Setting speed records

Profile: DH60 Gipsy Moth

Engine: De Havilland Gipsy I

Outstanding achievements

Biplanes dominate

Airliners emerge

Great manufacturers: De Havilland

The 1930s: Private aircraft for all

Profile: Piper J3 cub

Quest for speed

Setting records

Ameilia Earhart

Great manufacturers: Piper

Airliners win through

Profile: Douglas DC-2

Flying boats and amphibians

Rotorcraft emerge

Engine: Rolls-Royce Type R

The warplane evolves

Trainers, parasites, and parasols

The 1940s: Bombers

Profile: Boeing B-17

Wartime fighters

Profile: Supermarine spitfire

Military support aircraft

Great manufacturers: Douglas

Civil transport

Post-war light aircraft

Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp

Piston perfection

Early jets

Frank Whittle's jet engine

Early helicopters

Toward the sound barrier

Ahead of their time

Great manufacturers: North American

The 1950s: Jet fighters

ProfileL F-86 Sabre

Bombers, Attack aircraft and trainers

Rotorcraft mature

The glamour of air travel

Piston-engine transport ends

Profile: Super Constellation

Civil jets and turboprops

Engine: General Electric J79

Modern classics

Great manufacturers: Cessna

Experimental aircraft

Supersonic fighters

The 1960s: America dominates

Great manufacturers: Boeing

Jet and propeller transport

Engine: Rolls-Royce Pegasus

Business, utility, and fire-fighting

Military developments

Profile: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

VTOL, STOL, and speed

Rotary-wing diversity

Air support

Great manufacturers: Sikorsky

The 1970s: US rivals and French classics

Business and utility aircraft

Airport design

Diverse airliners

Profile: Concorde

Great manufacturers: Airbus

Military support

Frontline aircraft

Engine: Allison 250/T63 Turboshaft

Europeans challenge

Profile: Bell 206 JetRanger

The 1980s: Great manufacturers: Lockheed

Military aircraft

Profile: Mikoyan MiG-29

Stealth bomber

Helicopter developments

Great manufacturers: Robinson

A scattering of British types

Engine: Rotax UL-1V

Bizjets and turboprop rivals

Two-crew cockpits

The 1990s: Business and utility

Tradition and innovation

Sports and sailplanes

Profile: Duo Discus glider

Europe challenges the US airliners

Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent 800

Upgraded helicopters

Carrier aircraft

Military technology

Great manufacturers: Northrop

After 2000: Europeans lead

Engine: Rotax 912ULS

Ultra-efficient civil transport

End of the line for manned fighters?

Profile: Eurofighter Typhoon

Alternative power

Great manufacturers: Scaled composites

More efficient and greener

WhiteknightTwo and SpaceShipTwo

How aircraft fly

Piston engines

Jet engines

Landmark engines.