Ever since humans started battling the elements one of their greatest goals was to be able to fly. Below is a short history of some early flight achievements. From humble beginnings, we now take for granted everyday air travel, you may even be able to determine the cache location from them.
In 1782 the first balloon took to flight, it was small 3ft x 3ft x 4ft box fueled by burning paper, the smoke and hot air quickly caused the contraption to rise and collide with the ceiling. Ambition pushed inventors ahead and further progress was made later that year when the first hydrogen filled balloon flew. Humans, albeit "volunteer" condemned criminals, first flew in a balloon the following year. From being restricted to air currents determining their path, balloons advanced in 1784 by the addition of an engine which gave the balloon a top speed of a staggering 3 mph. The first use of balloons in a military role took place in 1794; they were used as observation platforms, but probably had more success in scaring and demoralising the enemy troops below. Against all thoughts of self preservation, the worlds first parachute jump was made in 1797 from a balloon at a height of 6,500ft; the parachutist descended under a 23ft canvas canopy and survived. Little progress was then made in aviation until the first powered flight of a heavier than air machine in 1903. Sadly, accidents will happen and in 1908 the first powered flight fatality occurred when a wing bracing wire was severed by a propeller 75ft above ground. Progress continued and by 1913 the first multi-engined aircraft flight took place. At the start of the first world war pilots and observers started shooting at each other from their aircraft with rifles and pistols. As you can imagine, the accuracy of the shooting from hand held weapons was not too great, so not surprisingly there was little loss of life. Europe saw its first scheduled passenger air service in the summer of 1919, followed a few months later by a regular air mail service. Also in the same year the first non-stop trans-atlantic flight was successfully completed in 16 hours and 12 minutes. You now have a brief history of early flight, use it to go find the cache!
Please bring your own pen
