-
Sir George Cayley, in England, made the first winged aircraft. He spent many years studying flight
-
Samuel Langley made a steam-powered airdrome. It was unmanned, and it flew for about a half mile.
-
After continuing his studies, Mr. Langley came up with a gasoline-powered engine for his airdromes.
-
Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful manned flights near Kitty Hawk in North Carolina.
-
Eugene Ely decided to try landing and taking off from a ship. He did both successfully, and it paved the way for future air craft carriers
-
During WWI they needed better airplanes for fighting purposes. Many advances were made at this time, including faster and lighter planes
-
The United States Postal Service began using airplanes to deliver mail across the country. It was three days faster than carrying the mail by train.
-
The US Navy made some of the first flights across the Atlantic Ocean. Soon after that, passenger flights began
-
In 1925, new lightweight, air cooled engines were created. This made the airplanes run better and faster
-
Mr. Lindbergh made the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. He flew from New York to Paris by himself.
-
Boeing made the 247 plane. It could seat up to 10 people.
-
When WWII broke out, engineers began developing better equipment to help with the war. They developed airplane radars that could detect airplanes flying, even far away
-
Pilots and engineers in California tested a theory called the area rule. Using it, they were able to make sleeker, faster airplanes without using bigger engines.
-
Boeing came out with the 747. It was a huge jet that could seat many more than the previous 10 people.
-
During the 90's engineers invented planes using non-metal materials that couldn't be detected by radar. Shortly after that, the stealth planes were invented. The production of bigger and better airplanes continues today, and one can only dream what will come next!