history of aviation By gerbil 400 Chinese discover kites 400 BC Jan 1, 1000 Greek Engineer discovers Aeoipile 1 BC Jan 1, 1480 Leonardo da Vinci designs aircraft Jan 1, 1783 Hot air ballon invented Period: Jan 1, 1799 to Jan 1, 1850 Geroge Cayley invents glider Jan 1, 1891 Otto Lilienthal gliders Jan 1, 1891 Samuel P. Langley aerodrome Jan 1, 1894 Octave Chanute "Progress in flying machines" Dec 17, 1903 First plane flew by Wright brothers
