Stuff You Should Know Selects: How No-fly Zones Work
Apr 2, 2022
Explore the fascinating world of no-fly zones, a military tool implemented primarily since the 1990s. Discover their historical origins, from the days of the Wright brothers to modern warfare. Delve into key operations like those in Iraq, Bosnia, and Libya, and examine the challenges faced in enforcing these zones amid international politics. Hear heroic survival stories of pilots navigating hostile environments and the complex dynamics between national sovereignty and global intervention. It's a riveting look at airspace management and its impact on civilian safety.
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Wright Brothers and War Department
- The Wright brothers initially offered their airplane invention to the U.S. War Department.
- The War Department declined three times, failing to see its military application.
No-Fly Zones: A Recent Development
- No-fly zones are a relatively new intervention, first used in the 1990s.
- They represent a significant step by undermining a nation's sovereignty, requiring a UN mandate.
First No-Fly Zone
- The first no-fly zone was implemented in 1991 during the Gulf War to protect Kurdish refugees.
- Saddam Hussein, after initially dismissing the concept, became the first to have a no-fly zone imposed upon him.