Page 272 - New Medley 5 Semester 2
P. 272
Airways
Man has always wanted to fly. He used
balloons filled with hot gases to go up into
the air. The Wright brothers of America
made a successful attempt to fly in the
air in 1903. They developed an aeroplane
which flew a distance of about 230 metres.
This flying machine was named The Flyer. Aeroplane
Modern aeroplanes fly at a height of about 11 km with a speed of about
1000 km per hour. Some aeroplanes can carry about 400–500 passengers.
The aeroplanes move in the air with the help of jet engines.
Today, practically all the countries in the world are connected by air
routes. The main needs of air transport are airports, aeroplanes and
clear weather. Due to its speed, airways have become the most popular
means of transport in the world, although it is far more expensive than
any other means of transport.
The busiest airports in the world are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago,
Montreal, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Jeddah, Mumbai, New Delhi,
Hong Kong and Tokyo.
In India, the government and the private airlines provide regular services
to major cities and also to all the neighbouring countries.
Waterways
Early humans used rafts and simple boats
for thousands of years. The invention
of the steam engine and the growth of
industries helped in the making of large-
sized boats, called ships. A ship can carry
heavy cargo and a large number of people
to far-off places and at a fast speed. Water
transport is now the cheapest means of Ship
transport.
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