Their role in being the ones out front who often end up being sacrificed for those standing behind them is the reason that they are indeed the pawns of the industry.
A United Airlines 787 dreamliner made a special appearance during President Barack Obama's visit to Boeing's Everett, Wash. factory on Friday, becoming the first Dreamliner to wear the complete United livery.
Space Shuttle Endeavour made its 25th and final launch on Monday, blasting into orbit carrying six astronauts and two major additions to the International Space Station.
A Brazilian court on Tuesday threw out another judge's acquittal of two American pilots involved in the 2006 Gol Flight 1907 crash, which killed 154 people.