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Uses Of Airplanes - Level 1

Practically everyone has been touched in some way by aviation. Aviation includes all flying done by general aviation, the military and the airlines. Commercial airlines serve about 450 of the nation's 14,000 airports. Meanwhile general aviation airplanes service all 14,000 airports, making it a vital link in the air transportation system. General aviation airplanes have many different uses including business, air taxi, rental, commuter operations, personal transportation, sport flying, flight instruction, air ambulance and agricultural.

Aviation has three divisions: general aviation, commercial, and military. Commercial aviation refers to the airlines, military to the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. General aviation is all flying outside the military and the airlines.

Commercial Aviation

Airliners can range in size from commuter aircrafts, which are sometimes so small that these planes only carry a few passengers, to major carriers flying Boeing 747s which can carry several hundred passengers.

The Boeing 757 passenger airliner.

Military Aviation

The military fly a variety of aircraft types including bombers, fighters, transports, and helicopters.

The B-2 bomber.

The F-117 Stealth fighter at an airshow at Andrews AFB, MD.

Soldiers making a static-line parachute jump from a C-17 transport.

The RAH-66 Comanche is an advancedtwin engine, two seat (tandem) light attack/armed reconnaissance helicopter currently being developed for the U. S. Army.

General Aviation

General aviation includes varied types of aircraft ranging from small, light planes to record-breaking, non-stop, around-the-world planes like the Voyager.

The Voyager, non-stop, around-the-world record holder.

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From
Raytheon Aviation
Educational Materials

Updated: February 23, 1999