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1480
Da Vinci's Flying Machines
In 1480 famous artist and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci designed the concept of flying machines. Da Vinci's early flying machines are the oldest documented aircraft designs. The machine was an ornithopter flying machine that would fly by flapping its wings. However, this concept was never tested due to the belief that human flight was only possible in mythology. Even though it was never tested Da Vinci's inventions sparked the possibility of human flight. -
First Successful Balloon Flight
On June 6, 1783, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier were the first to accomplish balloon flight. The flight process involved using hydrogen gas to heat the cold air in their balloon to create lift. The brother's flight proved that human flight could be accomplished and made air travel a possibility for the future. -
Balloons Used In The Military
On June 2, 1794, the French Army, led by General Napoleon, was the first military group to use a balloon. The balloons were originally used for mail delivery to soldiers but were later used to spy on opposing countries and bomb them. This event is significant to the history of flight because it demonstrated the use of aviation, causing people and other countries to adopt it. -
George Cayley
In 1808, Sir George Cayley flew a kite-like version of a glider. This event is one of the first documented heavier-than-air-flights. The significance of Cayley's glider flight is that it inspired later glider designs. In addition to inspiring glider designs, the flight inspired the Wright Brothers and other aviation pioneers to fly. -
Wright Brothers First Successful Airplane Flight
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright accomplished the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air flight. The flight took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in a biplane they made called "The Wright Flyer." This moment in history showed that human flight in heavier-than-air aircraft is possible and paved the way for modern-day aircraft designs. -
Wright Brothers Flight From First Airfield
On May 26, 1904, the Wright Brothers completed their second successful flight at the first-ever airfield in Huffman Prairie, Ohio. However, what makes this event monumental is not the flight itself but the fact that it happened at an airfield named Huffman Prairie, as this was the first time there was a designated location to practice flying. This means that the Wright brothers' flight at Huffman Prairie led to the creation of airports, as we now have specific places to conduct air travel. -
First Flight With A Passenger
On May 14, 1908, Wilbur Wright, with Charles W. Furnas as a passenger, made history as they completed the first successful passenger flight in Paris, France. This flight proved that humans can make airplanes that can support passengers. In addition, this flight led the way to the creation of passenger airplanes, and eventually, passenger flights were so high in demand that airline companies were established. -
American Airlines Founded
On April 15, 1926, American Airlines was founded. American Airlines is one of America's oldest air travel companies and continues to operate. The commercial service was only available for flights from New York City, New York, to Chicago, Illinois. Since then, the company has expanded and is now one of the largest airline companies in the U.S. Today, there are many airline companies in the U.S., and American Airlines is to thank for the progression of airline companies. -
First Non-Stop Transatlantic Flight
On May 5, 1927, Charles Lindbergh made history by being the first person to complete a nonstop transatlantic flight. The flight was from Long Island, New York, to Paris, France, and took 33 hours. This moment is significant to the development of aviation, as it showcased extreme measures of aircraft performance and pilot endurance. Today, pilots have to stay awake for a long time as part of their flight training, and modern-day aircraft can endure long flights. -
Amelia Earhart Flies Across The Atlantic
On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight across the Atlantic. In doing so, she became an overnight celebrity and a well-known pilot. This event is significant because it helped improve the public's general knowledge of aviation and helped progress women's involvement in aviation. -
Wiley Post Flies Solo Across The World
On July 15, 1933, Wiley Post flew solo across the world. The flight was conducted in a Lockheed 5C Vega Winnie Mae and took roughly seven days. Post's flight impacted aviation because it demonstrated that round-trip flights across continents are possible. Today, the most efficient way to travel between countries is air travel, and without Wiley's flight around the world, cross-country air travel would not exist. The flight also was the first use of flight instruments that pilots use today. -
Chicago Conference
On November 1, 1944, fifty-four nations met in Chicago, Illinois, to make arrangements for the establishment of world airmail routes and services and study international flight records. This event is significant to the development of aviation because it helped form the United States aerospace system that we have today. -
Federal Aviation Administration Founded
On August 23, 1958, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was established. Today, the FAA establishes regulations regarding any method of flight. This helped improve aviation, as before the formation of the FAA, there were few laws regarding aviation. Therefore, the creation of the FAA helped make aviation operations much safer. -
Boeing 747 Debut
To improve air travel, Boeing made the first-ever commercial jet. This invention made air travel quicker and more efficient, making it better for the future. -
DJI founded
In the year 2006, a Chinese computer scientist named Frank Wang wanted to mix his love for computers with his passion for flying machines. To accomplish this, he created a remote-controlled aircraft called a drone, which was an immediate success. As a result of this, he founded an international drone company called DJI. The invention of the drone was monumental for the aviation industry as drones provide more job opportunities because they can complete more tasks than other types of aircraft.