History of Flight By chrismike1 Aug 9, 1500 Leonardo da Vinci designs flying machines and parachute. Jan 31, 1783 Jacques Alexandre César Charles and M.N. Robert fly in a hydrogen balloon. Apr 7, 1896 Samuel P. Langley produces successful steam-powered models that fly. Feb 22, 1903 Orville + Wilbur Wright create first controlled and powered flight Apr 13, 1909 Louis Bleriot, French aviator, makes first airplane crossing of English Channel. Feb 26, 1926 Robert H. Goddard makes first free flight of a liquid-fueled rocket. Oct 26, 1927 Charles A. Lindbergh completes first solo, nonstop trans-Atlantic flight. Jan 16, 1932 Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly a solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. Feb 26, 2000 First crew arrives to take up residence in the International Space Station.
