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The first hot air balloon flight takes place in France, carrying passengers for the first time.
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The Wright brothers successfully fly the first powered airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
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Airplanes are used for the first time in war during World War I, leading to the development of military aviation.
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Charles Lindbergh completes the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
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The era of commercial air travel begins with the development of passenger airlines and the introduction of larger, more advanced aircraft.
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Chuck Yeager becomes the first pilot to break the sound barrier in the experimental Bell X-1 aircraft.
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The Soviet Union launches the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, marking the beginning of the space age.
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Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
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The first Concorde supersonic passenger jet enters service, cutting travel time between Europe and North America by half.
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The Airbus A380, the largest passenger airliner ever built, makes its first flight.
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Commercial space travel begins with the first successful passenger flight of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.