ABSTRACT
Aviation is normally seen as being a global industry because of the importance of international commercial air travel. All of the early pioneers of flight, however, had an interest in international events in the development of the industry, and this interest continued as they developed their manufacturing concerns. Although military interests and government involvement might have had the effect of dividing the industry along national lines, these global interlinkages continue into the present day. These links exist today in a variety of forms, many which have a long history stretching back to the earliest days during World War I.
