Composition | Conquest of The Air

In the past, a hero was someone who defeated others through physical strength. But today, our idea of a hero is somewhat different. Modern heroes conquer the challenges of the world using their minds. This ability to overcome obstacles brings out the heroic qualities in them. They strive to eliminate any opposition and overcome limitations of time and space. Heroism lies in achieving the impossible, and humans are always inspired by this noble desire. They feel that they possess a power within themselves, similar to the creative force behind the universe, and the intellect to shape the world around them.

This desire to conquer the air and fly like birds has always been present in human imagination. Poets have dreamed of it throughout history. Stories like Ravana's Pushpakarath, Daedalus' wings, and the magic carpet from the Arabian Nights are all creative attempts to travel through the air. However, it is only in recent years that science has turned these dreams into reality. Scientists studied the behavior of gases and the flight mechanisms of birds. They improved the power of engines and made countless experiments, even risking their lives. They struggled with balloons and airships until they finally succeeded in creating the modern airplane. Today, the sky is filled with the sound of powerful Rolls-Royce engines, carrying nearly a thousand passengers through the air quickly and effortlessly.

The earliest flying machines were inspired by the way birds fly. These machines, called Ornithopters or flapping-wing machines, were associated with the great name of Leonardo da Vinci. However, they were far from successful. Another group of scientists believed that flying machines should be based on the principle of being "lighter than air." As early as the thirteenth century, Roger Bacon proposed this idea. But it took many centuries for these theories to become practical. The first step was taken with the invention of the balloon in the late eighteenth century in France. When a balloon filled with hydrogen could stay in the air for half an hour, it seemed like the problem was solved. Then, experiments began to navigate and control the balloon's movements. The first navigable balloon or airship was constructed in 1784 by two Frenchmen, but it still had no practical use.

With the discovery of steam power, a steam-driven airship was built in 1852, but it turned out to be useless. Then came the era of electricity, and in 1883, attempts were made to use electric propellers. However, the risks involved were significant, and these experiments did not seem to justify themselves. Meanwhile, another group of scientists pursued the idea of flying machines that were "heavier than air." In 1899, George Cayley contributed an influential article to Nicholson's Journal, outlining the features of modern airplanes, such as wings, screw-propellers, internal combustion engines, and streamlined shapes. Gliders with rigid wings and movable tails were the first steps in this direction. But the true credit for developing the modern airplane goes to the Wright Brothers of America. They successfully flew a plane with a petrol engine. From 1903 to 1908, they conducted crucial experiments. Then, the European War of 1914 happened, and the construction of airplanes advanced rapidly. Airships, including the giant zeppelins from Germany, also had a revival. However, zeppelins were found to be unreliable and were eventually abandoned. During World War II, airplanes became highly advanced, and today they are the preferred means of long-distance travel, surpassing all other modes of transportation.

During wartime, the sound of airplanes is ominous because they carry deadly bombs. But during peacetime, these inventions prove their value by bringing the world closer together. Improved communication fosters intimacy among nations.

 They can learn about each other's needs and achievements. It is possible that airplanes will eventually foster a sense of international friendship. Before the steam engine was invented, it was unimaginable for the East and the West to have significant contact beyond rare and casual encounters. But now, despite everything, the East and the West are closer than ever before in human history. We can reach London in a day and America in two days. Time and space have been reduced. Students can easily travel to distant universities, merchants can conduct trade across great distances, and scientists can collaborate in their pursuit of knowledge. International conferences have become commonplace. Through all the chaos of the present, a unity among nations will emerge, ushering in a golden age of human brotherhood. The conquest of the air will then serve as a means to promote human welfare in the highest sense.

Speaking of the future, it is worth mentioning the next step in the conquest of the air. We are now standing at the threshold of a new era of interplanetary communication. Soviet scientists have pioneered this field, opening up the limitless realm of the heavens. Yuri Gagarin circled the globe and safely returned to Earth—a feat that surpasses Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. Moreover, man-made satellites are already zooming through space, and we have even landed on the moon. Who knows what other grand adventures the conquest of the air will lead us to in the future, adventures that our ancestors could never have imagined?