Many cultures have built devices that travel through the air, from the earliest projectiles such as stones and spears,the boomerang in Australia, the hot air Kongming lantern, and kites.
The modern age of aviation began with the first untethered human lighter-than-air flight on November 21, 1783, in a hot air balloon designed by the Montgolfier brothers
Jean-Pierre Blanchard flew the first human-powered dirigible in 1784 and crossed the English Channel in one in 1785. While there are many competing claims for the earliest powered, heavier-than-air flight, the most widely-accepted date is December 17, 1903 by the Wright brothers. The Wright brothers were the first to fly in a powered and controlled aircraft.
The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-airhuman flight, on December 17, 1903. In the two years afterward, the brothers developed theirflying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft.
Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible.
Aircraft began to transport people and cargo as designs grew larger and more reliable. In contrast to small non-rigid blimps, giant rigid airships became the first aircraft to transport passengers and cargo over great distances. The best known aircraft of this type were manufactured by the German Zeppelin company. Great progress was made in the field of aviation during the 1920s and 1930s, such as Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight in 1927, and Charles Kingsford Smith’s transpacific flight the following year. One of the most successful designs of this period was the Douglas DC-3, which became the first airliner that was profitable carrying passengers exclusively, starting the modern era of passenger airline service.
Great progress was made in the field of aviation during the 1920s and 1930s, such as Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight in 1927, and Charles Kingsford Smith’s transpacific flight the following year. One of the most successful designs of this period was the Douglas DC-3, which became the first airliner that was profitable carrying passengers exclusively, starting the modern era of passenger airline service
Since the 1960s, composite airframes and quieter, more efficient engines have become available, and Concorde provided supersonic passenger service for more than two decades.
The single greatest step in the history of airplane design was the introduction of the turbine powered engine.All large transport aircraft are equipped with more than one engine, so if one engine fails there are back-up engines that will provide enough power for a safe landing.
Current changes in airplane design include the use of technologically advanced communications, radar, global positioning systems (GPS), and autopilot systems.
