===== Points of Divergence : Invention and development of aircraft ===== Points of divergence dealing with alternate developments of aviation and various types of aircraft. Entries in both POD sections are sorted as chronologically as possible. ---- ==== General musings ==== This section lists PODs about general aircraft and aviation topics, including topics related to research and development, etc., etc. The list includes both civilian and military aircraft topics and is arranged in chronological order (with earliest PODs listed first). **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=93767|WI the Nazca had really invented hot air ballons ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=236478|Plausibility check: Renaissance flying machines ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=206325|Plausibility check: Airship galleys ?]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/the-aerial-steam-carriage-flys-abound-1850ish.353674/|The Stringfellow and Henson Aerial Steam Carriage flies around 1850-ish]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=257395|What is the earliest an airship could be built ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=234709|What is the earliest an airplane could be built prior to 1903 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=24256|What would aeroplane use in the American Civil War be like ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=300951|WI the first flight was by Ellehammer, before the Wrights ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=151650|WI the test flight of the Flyer at Kitty Hawk is not successful ?]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/could-the-invention-of-heavier-than-flight-be-delayed.432176/|Could the invention of heavier than flight be delayed ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-delay-aviation-by-50-years.277065/|Challenge: Delay aviation by 50 years]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=28312|Musings on the military applications of zeppelins]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=257456|How big can airplanes get ?]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-would-early-1900s-aeroplanes-sound-like-if-they-were-powered-by-electric-engines.505210/|What would early 1900s aeroplanes sound like if they were powered by electric engines ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=345703|No Italo-Turkish War of 1911]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=360136|Roland Garros has worse engine trouble, crashes before reaching Bizerte]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=25743|Bomber war in WWI and how to keep it going]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=242877|Plausibility check: Naval guns on an airship ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=206822|Aircraft developments if the first world war had dragged on a year or two longer]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258845|Twin hull flying boat designs]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=98202|Solid state propulsion: A ramjet aircraft WI]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=260738|DBWI: Airplaines used in civilian travel ?]]** - A humorous [[alternate history:double blind what if]]. **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=325891|Alternatives to Heathrow Airport]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-bessie-coleman-doesnt-die-in-1926.411115/|WI Bessie Coleman doesn't die in 1926 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=274987|WI no Air Mail Scandal of 1930 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=290066|Alternate Aircraft Acquisitions]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-1930s-1940s-alternate-military-aircraft.390213/|1930s-1940s alternate military aircraft]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-1930s-40s-airforce-on-a-budget.435531/|Challenge: 1930s/1940s air force on a budget]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=123692|Alternative British fighter development in the 1930s]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=192414|A better Fleet Air Arm ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=362540|Plausibility check: Airborne refuelling before WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=300834|Less airpower in WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=155409|No German dive bombers in WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=360121|Ernst Udet dies 3 June 1936, Walther Wever does not]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=254662|Build your own Luftwaffe]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=262883|WI German carrier aircraft]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=17739|More biplanes during WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=265381|Most sophisticated WWII biplane fighter possible]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-hawker-henley-as-a-viable-combat-aircraft.400872/|WI: Hawker Henley as a viable combat aircraft ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=265618|Effect on the LW if the RAF does better in the Battle of Britain]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=201035|WI the LW have R4M engines in 1943 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=267710|Possible uses for helicopters in WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=93020|More twin-boom aircraft (like the P-38 Lightning)]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/no-jets.92485/|No jets]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=269748|Challenge: Pulse jet powered fighters in WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=374360|Plausibility check: Nazis get jet fighters earlier]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=315551|No Rolls Royce Nene engines sent accidentally to the USSR during WWII ?]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-no-rolls-royce-jet-engines-for-the-ussr.443298/|WI: No Rolls-Royce Jet Engines for the USSR]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=268715|Plausibility check: WWII British jet bombers]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=325652|Plausibility check: Effective Germans SAMs by January 1944 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-if-the-war-began-in-1944-royal-navy-in-particular-and-raf-overall.399478/|What if the War began in 1944? (Royal Navy in particular and RAF overall)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=124651|1946: Build your own air force]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=66175|More improvised air forces ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=168543|Plausibility check/Discussion: Best fighter for a developing country ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=172162|Bombers, Rotordynes and a fistful of Buccaneers]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=264224|Plausibility check: Sports aviation revival after the Second World War]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=106855|Challenge: Make biplanes still prominent even after WWII]]** **[[http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=337924|Commercial and military aviation without World War II]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=344345|Competent post-war Air Ministry]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=168502|Civilian jetliners of alternate history]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/transport-autogyro-a-question-for-the-panel.436125/|Plausibility check: Transport autogyros]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=371710|Challenge: British strategic bomber]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/great-britain-missed-aerospace-opportunities.367215/|UK missed aerospace opportunities]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=308592|WI the German air force does not try to take the VTOL route in the 1950s/1960s]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=298433|WI Lockheed were caught bribing governments earlier ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=326755|WI: Canards and thrust vectoring adopted earlier]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=224054|SSTs Become Popular]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=139749|Challenge: Practical American SST]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=170998|Challenge: Commercially Successful SST]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-majority-sst-air-transport-with-1970s-oil-crises.417253/|Challenge: Majority-SST air transport with 1970s oil crises]]** **[[http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=334408|Challenge: Pan Am Supersonic Transports and Space Clippers]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=259456|Implications for aircraft development if Lt. Belenko doesn't defect]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=326770|Challenge: Three major present day airliner manufacturers instead of two]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=356914|Could the jetliner duopoly be avoided ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=278073|The Brits getting a new long-range Bomber after the Falklands War]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=73269|Plausibility check: A modern day British jet fighter (in the 1980s)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=226797|Plausibility check: Return to dogfighting]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=248898|WI Iranian US Aircraft rebuilt by Russia]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=236198|Plausibility check: Propeller aircraft carriers today ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=265247|Challenge: Make fighters obsolete by 2100]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=27702|ASB WI: ASBs abolish air power, nukes and submarines]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=276931|ASB WI: No aviation in WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=284757|ASB WI/Plausibility check: ISOTing airliners converted to bombers to WWII]]** Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. ---- ==== Specific aircraft models and situations ==== This section lists PODs about specific aircraft and engine models, specific events pertaining to their development, promotion and sales, etc., etc. The list includes both civilian and military aircraft and is arranged in chronological order (with earliest PODs listed first). **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=78564|Thread about unrealized aircraft projects by country]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=206822|Aircraft developments if the first world war had dragged on a year or two longer]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/sopwith-survives.315841/|Sopwith survives !]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258845|Twin hull flying boat designs]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=336944|WI: Gloster's "Unnamed Fighter"]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258860|If the Hindenburg was using helium instead of hydrogen]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=229185|Wolfram von Richthofen stays in technical branch]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=354293|Plausibility check: Bombers as interceptors ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=313696|Is early Griffon engine too boring and tedious ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=246246|Airplanes with different engines and parts]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=383962|Challenge: Replace the Bristol Blenheim much earlier]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=268393|He 111 given more production capacity in 1939]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=254104|Dornier 19 instead of FW 200]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=264859|WI FW190C instead of D ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=264966|A better Hawker Hurricane]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=323436|Hawker Hurricane thin wing]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=352891|British Sturmovik]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=234727|A British P-38 equivalent]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=345725|WI P-38 Lightnings in RAF service ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=259405|The Junkers JU-88 as Nazi Germany's only medium bomber]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=259843|WI faster Ju88 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=116744|Fw 190 in service 1940]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=255252|P.59 project not cancelled in 1940 (Do335)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=245178|FW 187 instead of Bf 110]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=322615|Bf110 not replaced by Me210]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=294482|Fw187 in the Battle of Britain, Luftwaffe's P-51 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=115145|American airship fleet in WWII]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258014|No P-51 Mustang (and the impact of this fact on American bomber escorting)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=180008|Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs in use in 1943]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=311563|WI: Germans produce R4M AA rockets earlier (1)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=201035|WI: Germans produce R4M AA rockets earlier (2)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=75379|Plausibility check: Feasibility of the Horten Ho229]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=264991|Jet Engined Lancaster Bomber ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=124912|American jet fighter developments in '44]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=289126|Challenge: Keep the CAC CA-15 Kangaroo alive !]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=168502|Civilian jetliners of alternate history]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=274661|WI: No DH106 Comet]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=344196|Would the de Havilland Comet not have been successful anyway ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=131823|Plausibility check: How big could the Canadian aviation industry get ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=275558|WI the CF-103 came first ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=183051|WI The Avro Arrow entered service ? (1)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=117613|WI The Avro Arrow entered service ? (2)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=302036|Production run of Fairey Delta 2 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=291456|Fairey FD2/Mirage replacing the English Electric Lightning ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=277254|WI: Soviets reverse-engineer B-52]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=224594|Further or alternate names starting with "V" for DeHavilland built military jets ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=268972|Better F-104]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=78847|TSR-2 built and in service]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=124535|TSR-2 lives again ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=268972|Better F-104 Starfighter]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-west-germany-buys-the-ee-lighting-and-not-the-f-104.541425/|WI West Germany buys the EE Lighting and not the F-104 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=335105|WI: B-70 Valkyrie enters Service]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-f-108-rapier-enters-service.317374/|WI: F-108 Rapier enters service]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=304941|Challenge and WI: The Dornier Do 31 enters serial production]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=325439|WI the Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 entered service]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=251961|The Northrop F5 is a bigger success]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=310762|Challenge: The F-4 Phantom is never designed]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=247953|Possible other operators of the F-111]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=239918|Challenge: Blackburn Buccaneer NATO Standard]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=167410|Boeing C-5A Galaxy and 747 become one and only aircraft and the Lockheed L-2000 is a more workable design]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=141273|WI the Concorde had Combination Engines ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=310904|The Other Mirages]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=256687|Other operators of the B-1 Lancer]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=95783|Challenge: Ubiquitous Harriers (1)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=164988|Challenge: Ubiquitous Harriers (2)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=171267|Plausibility check: Which western fighter is the most effective against a MiG 21 ? (Draken, F-5 or modified Hunter ?)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=266985|Israeli military helicopter manufacturers ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=108547|WI The Canadian Forces bought the F-14s ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=52143|WI the F-16 Falcon lost in the contract bid of 1974 ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=86735|WI: F-16 cancelled (1)]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-f-16-is-cancelled.426616/|WI: F-16 cancelled (2)]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=373572|WI: No F-16 Exports]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=337846|Non-US designed Aircraft in servive with the USAF/USN/USMC]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=324361|Challenge: Saab Viggen - NATO's Thunderbolt]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=75090|Challenge: Have the Saab 37 Viggen as the West’s main fighter]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=124535|Plausibility check: Bringing back the TSR-2 in the early 1980s ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=306062|Challenge: F-18L more popular]]** **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-6818964|Musings on a Bell Boeing V-22]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=358463|No MV22 Osprey]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=125707|Vulcan and Victor still in service ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=15023|RAAF doesn't replace Mirage IIIs with FA-18 Hornets]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=291157|WI no Eurofighter Typhoon ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=137893|"Novi avion" vs. NATO aircraft plausibility/feasibility discussion]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=306765|Soviet fighter development if the USSR had not collapsed]]** **[[http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=232787|Saving the PZL 230 Skorpion]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=247380|Plausibility check: Northrop F-23 in service in NATO and other nations]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=203433|F-32 selected for the JSF Program]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=267045|Challenge: Make the F-35 a success story]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=335224|Challenge: Harrier replacement]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=244164|A new B-52]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=252318|Reusing famous aircraft names]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=357157|Worst possible name for a combat aircraft]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=78564|What are your country's "if-only" aeroplanes ?]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=337020|Alternate warplanes of nations]]** **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=296009|Change a plane]]** Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. ---- ==== See Also ==== **[[timelines:Aviation Timelines]]** **[[pods:spaceflight|Points of Divergence : Spaceflight]]** **[[pods:Warships and Military Vessels|Points of Divergence : Warships and Military Vessels]]** - For PODs involving aircraft carriers and naval aviation. **[[offtopic:Aircraft Enthusiasts]]** ---- ==== Navigation ==== **[[pods:military technology|Military Technology PODs Main Directory]]** **[[pods:scientific discoveries and inventions|Scientific Discoveries and Inventions PODs Main Directory]]** **[[pods:pods|Points of Divergence Main Directory]]**