New exhibition presents a survey of the use of aluminum in aviation over the last century Without aluminum, the rapid advancement of aviation in the twentieth century would have been impossible. Aluminum’s lightness, strength, malleability, and durability was unmatched by any other material. Easily formed into a wide range of shapes, and combined with other metallic elements to form alloys, aluminum continues to have desirable qualities for many aeronautical applications. Aircraft have flown higher, farther, and faster with engines, wings, control surfaces, and internally braced, semi-...
