Aircraft production dropped by 85 percent at the conclusion of which global conflict?

The significant drop in aircraft production by 85 percent at the conclusion of World War I can be attributed to the drastic reduction in military needs following the armistice in 1918. During the war, there was an immense acceleration in aircraft manufacturing to support military operations, resulting in a booming industry. However, once the war concluded, the demand for military aircraft plummeted as countries demobilized their armed forces and shifted their focus away from wartime production.

In contrast, the aftermaths of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War each saw different trends in aircraft production. After World War II, for example, there was still a significant demand for military aircraft as the Cold War began, and the military-industrial complex expanded to support ongoing and emerging conflicts. Similarly, during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, military needs kept production levels more stable compared to the end of World War I.

Thus, the historical context of World War I, characterized by a rapid transition from wartime to peacetime production, accounts for the steep decline in aircraft production rates following its conclusion.