Aviation history for the modern mil and 'pro' aviators.

[JDK]

A) This question is really for current or recently serving armed forces folks.

Do you think aviation (or military, as appropriate) history is important to people in the military? How should it be taught or presented? Do those learning see it as a 'soft session' or relevant to their futures?

B) For those in civil aviation, particularly with a teaching role:

Do you think aviation history is important to people learning to become pilots, engineers et al? How should it be taught or presented? Do those learning see it as a 'soft session' or relevant to their futures?

Has an understanding of aviation history really affected your aviation career, or the 'day job' in a way you can quantify?

Could be interesting, I'm certainly curious.

[John Dupre]

""B) For those in civil aviation, particularly with a teaching role:

Do you think aviation history is important to people learning to become pilots, engineers et al? How should it be taught or presented? Do those learning see it as a 'soft session' or relevant to their futures?""

I think one of the biggest problems in some aircraft engineering firms is a lack of historical context. Some designers try to reinvent the wheel when even a cursory examination of history would show them the pitfalls of what they want to try. Lots of the legacy builders have let most of their older engineers go in cost savings measures leaving a lot of inexperienced upstarts who don't know what they don't know.

As a mechanic having a history background only helps so much. It can help to remember how certain designs have filtered through one maker after another if you are researching problems or parts procurement.

Since the teaching of history is currently abysmal throughout the country most students probably see it as a soft session of little relevance. Presentation has to be done in an engaging way and show relevance to what students need to know.

Everytime someone starts to complain to me that they were taught radial engines or dope and fabric or woodwork I like to point out that aviation is the only modern industry that still has virtually every aspect of its technology still viable and in use or production today. You can buy new wooden aircraft, new fabric covered aircraft, new radial engined aircraft let alone the old models still earning their keep. Someone has to know how to fix them and if you intend to be an A&P that means you have to know how to fix them. At least you have to know how to acquire the knowledge to fix them.

[Holedigger]

Just take a look at the current NASA projects. They are digging into a lot of their "old" Apollo technology, updating the materials and electronics. They have pulled in engineers from the '60s to help with the new projects! Indeed, why reinvent the wheel when a lot of time and money has been poured into research. History with an emphasis on the engineering triumphs and failures would be an interesting class. Looking in depth into just how problems were overcome or how little problems snowball into tragic consequences is important. Learn from the mistakes of others as you will never live long enough to make all those mistakes yourself!