Aeronautics: Aviation Powerplants Aviation Powerplants Aviation has reshaped modern life and has provided for extreme convenience for traveling businessmen, vacationers, and thrillseekers alike. It also plays a key role in military operations of all kinds. Although aircraft design progression plays a predominant role in advancing speed, agility, utility, and entertainment; none of these would be possible without powerplant development, refinement and modification. Aviation powerplants originated with the Wright flyer and its small 2 cylinder inline engines of a mere 45 horsepower. This style engine dominated aviation well into the First World War. They were generally