-
Mar 1, 1485
Leonardo da Vinci creates The Orithopter
Leonardo da Vinci studied flight all throughout the 1480's. The Orithopter was a diagram to show how man could fly based on birds. Modern helicopters are based on this. -
The first manned Hot Air Balloon ride
Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier created the hot air ballon by blowing smoke and hot air from a fire into a silk bag that was connected to a basket. The first test, the ballon flew over a mile. Because of their success, the brothers sent up Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent on November 21, 1783. This was the first time that flight was produced by not using bird like movements. -
Period: to
George Cayley develops gliders
Over 50 years, Cayley designed gliders that could enable man to fly based on body movements. He repeatedly made tweaks and adjustments to his gliders. He changed the wing shapes so that the air would flow over it better. A tail was added to the glider to increase stability. He also realized that power would be needed to keep somebody in the air longer.Mathews gliders soon became the inspiration for the Wright brothers and other flight developers. -
Period: to
The Wright Brothers pursue flight
Orville and Wilbur Wright were determined to experience flight. They read studies, and flew kites. They developed gliders like George Cayley did and learned about how wind interacts with flight. After they perfected thier glider shape in 1902, they developed an engine for sustained flying. The first Flyer flight was on Decmeber 17, 1903. Thier trials and studies led to the successful flight of Flyer ||| -
First Zepplin Flight
The first flight was over Lake Constance. Because it was damaged during landing, repairs were made and the two subsequent flights were successful. The successful flights happened on October 17, and 24, 1900. Zeppelins became widespread soon, in which they were used for recreational and military uses. -
First Sustained Flight
Since the first two flyers were unsteady and hard to control, the Wright Brothers spent another 2 years perfecting thier design. On October 5, 1905 Wilbur flew the Flyer ||| for 39 minutes until he ran out of gas. That flight covered about 24 miles in circles. This was the first "real" plane and it ushered in an age of flight for humans. -
Passenger travel across the British Channel is introduced
Britain and France start passenger travel initially from London to Paris. The first nonstop flight was from Newfoundland to Ireland. This was the beginning of flight as widespread transport and recreation -
Amelia Earhart flies across the Atlantic
In 1928 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic when she flew 20 hours and 40 minutes from Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland to Burry Port, Wales. She set the record for the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and received the Distinguished Flying cross for it. this ushered in a new idea that women and soon people of other races could fly as well as the white men. -
Sputnik 1 is launched
The Russian satellite, Sputnik 1, was the first artificial satellite launched into earth's atmosphere. This launching started the Space Race which was later part of the Cold War. Sputnik and its launch brought many political, scientific, military, and technological advancements. -
Apollo 11 moon landing
The team was launched from a Saturn V rocket on July 16, 1969. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon on July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon six hours later on July 21. Many outer space aviation explorations and studies were impacted from this event
