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221 BCE
Ancient Chinese Kites
Kites were invented in China by philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban. Kites were used to measure distances and to calculate and record wind readings. Kites are important to the history of flight because they acted as a basis for others to build off of and create their own aerial technology. For example, the Wright Brothers used kites to test small versions of their aircrafts. https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/kites.htm -
1485
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci created multiple drawings of human powered flying machines. This created the concept of human powered flight devices that were based off of studies of birds. This idea began to reoccur throughout the next forty years. http://www.flyingmachines.org/davi.html -
Robert Hooke
Robert Hooke created a spring powered ornithopter model after realizing that humans do not have enough strength to power flying machines, and they must have an engine or artificial propulsion. This caused many others to begin creating flying machines with some form of propulsion, such as Titi Livio Burattini’s Dragon Volant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_flying_machines?scrlybrkr=fa6877b3 -
The Montgolfier Brothers
The Montgolfier brothers publicly tested their new flying machine. They created a sphere-shaped balloon that will be filled with hot air. The invention of the hot air balloon was important because it showed the first human free flight, as it later became the first flying machine to achieve free flight by humans in 1783. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgolfier_brothers -
George Cayley
George Cayley proposed the idea of a flying machine with fixed wings and separate systems for propulsion, control, and lift. George created the basis of the modern airplane design and discovered the four main forces in flight, drag, weight, thrust, and lift. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cayleyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cayley -
The First Real Glider
George Cayley built the world’s first real glider. The Wright Brothers acknowledged this accomplishment and inspired them to create their own aircrafts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cayley -
The Wright Brothers
The Wright Brothers created the Wright Flyer, which became the first successful powered airplane. This opened the era of powered flight and caused biplanes to commercially be used in the military. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer -
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh successfully had the first solo transatlantic flight. The flight was from New York to Paris and was around 2,000 miles. This flight interested the world in commercial aviation and air mail, later changing the industry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh -
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to across the Atlantic Ocean and the second transatlantic flight. This event, along with the Ninety-Nines, inspired women to take part in the aviation industry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart -
Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager is the first pilot to break the sound barrier. Breaking the sound barrier was thought to be dangerous and that it would tear any plane apart. After this event, Yeager helped create more efficient and faster planes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Yeager -
The Boeing 707
The first flight of the Boeing 707. This plane was the first widespread commercial aircraft, spreading the availability of commercial flight and is considered to have started the Jet Age. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_707 -
The Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 became the first commercial transport plane to break the sound barrier. The DC-8 also had a larger fuel capacity compared to other planes. Therefore, the DC-8 encouraged intercontinental flights throughout the industry. https://www.boeing.com/history/products/dc-8.page -
The International Space Station
The first component of the International Space Station was launched into low orbit. The ISS has made it possible for humans to have a presence in space. The space station also conducts research that helps with spacecrafts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station -
SpaceX
SpaceX becomes the first private company to launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft. This shows that spacecrafts can potentially be reused and recycled to save money for various missions. https://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/spacexfeature.html
