Significant aircraft manufacturing began on Long Island in the early 20th century and boomed during the war years. Long Islanders helped transform aviation from a dangerous sport into a viable means of transportation, while also producing a large portion of the nation’s aerial arsenal in times of war. From the first frail biplanes to the warbirds of World War Two and the sleek fighters of the jet age, aviation companies on Long Island helped make aviation the integral part of our world that it is today.