Airplanes

Invention of Airplanes by the Wright Brothers

Dec 17, 1903

The 1903 Wright Flyer. It first flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

First powered flight in New Zealand

1904

Richard Pearse from New Zealand makes his first recorded powered flight of more than a few seconds, though witnesses contend his flight may have been just before the Wright brothers.

First powered flight in Europe

1906

Alberto Santos-Dumont makes the first successful powered flight in Europe.

New Zealander launches glider

1911

Kiwi aviator George Bolt's flying career began in the South island in 1911. Aged just 18, he launched a glider that he has designed and built himself from the Cashmere ills above Christchurch. In 1911 Bolt took New Zealand
s first aerial photographs.

George Bolt's flying career

1916

In 1916 he began work as an apprentice mechanic at the Walsh brothers' new Zealand Flying School in Auckland.

A pilot license first

1921

Bessie Coleman became the first African-American to gain a pilot's license.

First trans-Atlantic flight

1927

Charles Lindbergh completes the first solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight.

Jet engine invented

1930

British inventor Frank Whittle invents the jet engine.

First woman flies across Atlantic

1932

Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly a solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight.

First jet-propelled aircraft

1939

Germany's Heinkel 178 is the first jet-propelled aircraft to fly.

Aircraft exceeds speed of sound

1947

Charles Yeager pilots the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight.

First Boeing 747 commercial flight.

1970

Boeing 747 makes the first commercial flight.

Concorde passengers.

1976

Concorde beings its first passenger-carrying service.

First non-stop flight around world.

1986

Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager fly the US ultralight Voyager around the world in a 9-day non-stop flight from California to California.