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1300
Origins
The history of flight research began in an unexpected manner, using kites by the Chinese around the 13th century. They used these kites for aerial observation to test winds for sailing, as a signaling device, and to celebrate ceremonies. N. (n.d.). History of Flight. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/UEET/StudentSite/historyofflight.html -
1480
Leonardo da Vinci’s Impact
Leonardo da Vinci created various drawings of what was called The Ornithopter. It was never actually created, but the modern-day helicopter was based of this concept. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2013, May 01). Ornithopter. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/technology/ornithopter -
Robert Hooke’s Impact
Robert Hooke started his fascination with manned flight.
He claimed that human muscle power could be used in an invention. It probably used metal springs and gunpowder for manned flight. His fascination propelled the idea of manned flight, though, the machine turned out to be inoperable. Beavon, R. (1996). England's Leonardo. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from http://www.roberthooke.org.uk/leonardo.htm -
The Montgolfier Brother’s Impact
Two brothers, named Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier, invented the first successful hot air balloon.
They used the smoke from a fire to blow hot air into a silk bag, and the air rose and allowed the balloon to become extremely light. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, February 06). Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Montgolfier-brothers -
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George Cayley’s Impact
George Cayley designed many different gliders that used body movements to control it. He made many improvements to his gliders throughout the 50 years he worked on them. He is recognized as “The Father of Aeronautics” because of his massive influence on current day manned flight inventions. He changed the shape of the wings so that the air would flow over the wings correctly, designed a tail to help with the stability, and put a biplane design on the gliders to increase the strength. -
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George Cayley’s Impact (citations)
This is the website I used for the George Cayley timespan : Gray, C. (2003). Sir George Cayley. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from http://www.flyingmachines.org/cayl.html -
Samuel P. Langley’s Impact
Samuel P. Langley realized that power was necessary for human flight. He designed a model of a plane – called the Aerodrome – was so humongous and heavy that it crashed. This tragic event caused him to give up his attempts, but his contribution to modern day manned flight is noteworthy. Gray, C. (2015). Samuel Pierpont Langley. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from http://www.flyingmachines.org/lang.html -
The Start of the Golden Age of Air Ships
Ferdinand von Zeppelin launched his first airship from a floating hangar on Lake Constance in Germany at 62 years old. The Germans used Zeppelins as bombers and scouts during World War 1, which killed over 500 people. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020, March 04). Ferdinand, Graf von Zeppelin. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-Graf-von-Zeppelin -
The Wright Brother’s Glider
The Wright Brothers created the perfect glider shape so they focused on creating something that can create a thrust, so they designed a 12 horsepower engine. N. (2017). The Wright brothers' invention process. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from https://newsela.com/read/lib-nasa-wright-brothers-invention?utm_source=email -
The Wright Brother’s First Flight
At 10:35 a.m, the Wright Brothers successfully flew their controllable 600 pound flyer. N. (2017). The Wright brothers' invention process. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from https://newsela.com/read/lib-nasa-wright-brothers-invention?utm_source=email -
First Man to Cross the Atlantic Ocean
Charles Lindbergh became the first male pilot to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. Rhodes, J. (2010, May 20). Celebrating Milestones of Flight: Lindbergh and Earhart Cross the Atlantic. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/celebrating-milestones-of-flight-lindbergh-and-earhart-cross-the-atlantic-131506790/ -
First Woman to Cross the Atlantic Ocean
Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. Rhodes, J. (2010, May 20). Celebrating Milestones of Flight: Lindbergh and Earhart Cross the Atlantic. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/celebrating-milestones-of-flight-lindbergh-and-earhart-cross-the-atlantic-131506790/ -
Tragedy of Hindenburg
In Manchester Township, New Jersey, a German airship called LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed when it attempted to dock at Naval Air Station Lakehurst. 35 of the 97 passengers were killed but surprisingly, 62 of them survived this horrific tragedy. The Hindenburg Disaster. (n.d.). Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/ -
First Person to Break the Sound Barrier
Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier with the Bell X-1 rocket plane at Mach 1.05 at an altitude of 45,000 feet over the Rogers Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert. Woody, C. (2018, October 14). 71 years ago, Chuck Yeager smashed the sound barrier - here's what it was like on the famous flight. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.businessinsider.com/70-years-since-chuck-yeager-broke-the-sound-barrier-what-it-was-like-2017-10 -
First Flight of a Commercial Airliner
The first successful commercial passenger airliner, the Boeing 707, took flight. Bauer, P. (2018, May 25). Boeing 707. Retrieved May 08, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/technology/Boeing-707 -
First Civilian Airliner Takes Flight
The Douglas DC-8 took flight for the first time.It was the first civilian used jet and first supersonic flight. History. (n.d.). Retrieved May 08, 2020, from https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/delta-history/aircraft-by-type/jet/douglas-dc-8 -
First Man in Space
Russian astronaut, Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, became the first human to travel into space aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1. This was significant because it was the first case of a human going into space. Redd, N. (2018, October 12). Yuri Gagarin: First Man in Space. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from https://www.space.com/16159-first-man-in-space.html -
First Flight to the Moon
The Apollo 11 landed on the moon Neil Armstrong was the first man to step foot on the moon. Loff, S. (2015, March 16). Apollo 11. Retrieved May 08, 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo-11.html -
First ISS Module was Deployed
The first International Space Station module, called Zarya, was launched into space by a Proton rocket. It’s used as a laboratory, observatory, and factory. Garcia, M. (2018, September 20). Zarya Cargo Module. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/zarya-cargo-module -
First Drone to Carry People
A Chinese company known as EHang created a large drone that is capable of flying people from one place to another. Hsu, J. (2017, March 24). Drones to ferry people around are being developed and are not far off. Retrieved May 08, 2020, from https://newsela.com/read/passenger-drones-quadcopters/id/28358/?utm_source=email -
NASA Announces Plan to Further Travel Space
NASA announced that their spacecraft Orion will carry a crew to travel further into space in June 2020.
