The increasing importance of the airplane in present day civilization Throughout the ages, after each development in speed of communications and transportation, man has made noteworthy changes in his way of living. Indications are that the gradual development of the airplane to a safe and rapid means of transportation has had a great effect upon society by pushing back the frontiers of the world both geographically and scientifically. The impact of this speed has influenced almost every home and certainly every school in America.