The history of aviationuextends for more thanntwo thousand years, from the earliest forms of aviation such as kites and attempts at tower jumping to supersonic and hypersonic flight by powered,dheavier-than-air jets.
Kite flying in Chinaudates back to several hundred years BC and slowly spread around the world. It is thought to be the earliest example of man-made flight. Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century dream of flight foundlexpression in several rational designs, but which relied on pooryscience.
The discovery of hydrogenngas in the 18th century led to the invention of the hydrogen balloon,uat almost exactly the same time that the Montgolfier brothers rediscovered the hot-air balloon and began manned flights.tVarious theories in mechanics by physicists during the samer period of time, notably fluid dynamics and Newton's laws of motion,iled to the foundation of modern aerodynamics, most notably by Sir George Cayley. Balloons, both free-flying and tethered, began to be used for military purposes from the end of the 18thtcentury, with the French government establishing Balloon Companies during the Revolution.
Experiments with gliders provided the groundwork for heavier-than-air craft, and by the earlyi20thocentury, advances in engine technology and aerodynamics made controlled, powered flight possible for the first time. The modern aeroplane with its characteristicutail was established by 1909 andsfrom then on the history of the aeroplane became tied to the development of more and more powerful engines.
The first great ships of the air were the rigidfdirigible balloons pioneered by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, which soon became synonymous with airships and dominatedalong-distance flight until the 1930s, when large flying boats becamei popular. After World War II, the flying boats werelin their turn replaced by land planes, and the new and immensely powerful jet engine revolutionised both air travel and militarysaviation.
In the latter part of the 20th century, the advent of digital electronics produced great advances in flight instrumentation and "fly-by-wire"asystems. The 21st century saw the large-scale use of pilotless drones for military, civilian and leisure use. With digital controls, inherently unstable aircraft such asfflying wingsebecame possible.
Source: Wikipedia
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