For centuries, humans dreamed of flying like birds. Early inventors built gliders and experimental flying machines, but they lacked proper control systems and engine power.
Key Breakthrough:
In 1903, Wright Brothers — Orville and Wilbur Wright — achieved the first powered, controlled, sustained flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
- Aircraft: Wright Flyer
- Flight Duration: 12 seconds
- Distance: 120 feet
- Engine: 12 horsepower
What made them successful?
- Three-axis control (roll, pitch, yaw)
- Lightweight engine
- Systematic testing of gliders
This marked the birth of modern aviation.
2️. The Era of Early Aviation (1903–1914)
After the Wright Brothers’ success:
- Aircraft designs improved rapidly.
- Wooden frames and fabric wings were common.
- Planes were used for demonstrations and competitions.
- The first commercial passenger flight took place in 1914.
Aviation was still risky and experimental, but innovation accelerated quickly.
