More than 75 years have passed since the Wright brothers' historic first flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. During this relatively brief period, the airplane has developed from a useless freak to a highly significant force in modern society. The transformation of the airplane during this period must be ranked as one of the great engineering accomplishments of all time. The magnitude of the achievement is emphasized by the nature of the vehicle and the rigorous requirements for precise design of every element. In no other type of...