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First Powered Flight
Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first recorded powered, sustained and controlled flight in a heavier-than-air flying machine. -
Jet engine invented
British inventor Frank Whittle invents the jet engine. -
First woman flies across Atlantic
Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly a solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. -
First jet-propelled aircraft
Germany’s Heinkel 178 is the first fully jet-propelled aircraft to fly. -
First supersonic transport flight
First flights of supersonic transport – Soviet TU-144 and Anglo-French Concorde. -
First Boeing 747 commercial flight
Boeing 747 makes the first commercial flight. -
Longest human-powered flight
Bryan Allen pedals the Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel, breaking the distance record for human-powered flight. -
First non-stop flight around world
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager fly the US ultralight Voyager around the world in a 9-day non-stop flight from California to California. -
First non-stop world solo flights
Steve Fossett makes the first non-stop solo flight around the world (2005) and in 2006 lands in England after flying around the world once and crossing the Atlantic twice – a distance of 26,389.3 miles (42,469.46 kilometres). -
New glider record
New Zealand pilot Terry Delore breaks the world gliding record by 100 kilometres, travelling a total of 2400 kilometres within New Zealand. -
Martin jetpack
In an unmanned test, the Martin jetpack reaches an altitude of 5000 feet (1524 metres). The jetpack, invented by New Zealander, Glenn Martin, is a small flying device for one person. It was named one of the world’s top 10 inventions in 2010. -
World’s first flying car
The Transition® by Terrafugia is a roadable aircraft – an aeroplane that can take off and land at any airport and, with the push of a button, fold up its wings and drive down the road. -
solar flight around the world
Solar Impulse 2 is the first plane powered by a renewable energy source to tour the globe. The Solar Impulse website has further information.