Early forms of aviation have existed for hundreds of years, including kites and similar contraptions. The hot air balloon, invented in the late 18th century, is also included. However, aviation really came to be in the early s. What led to modern aviation can be traced back directly to the Wright Brothers, two of the most famous aviators of all time. The two brothers completed the first successful powered flight on December 17, Aircraft design has changed a great deal since the Wright Brothers took to the skies.
Let's take a look at some of the most significant milestones. Since then, the aviation industry has rapidly advanced. The introduction of the internal combustion engine, tractor landing gear configuration, and even the development of advanced manufacturing methods spurred this growth.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see a private jet fly over 7, nautical miles 8, miles or a single-engine propeller aircraft fly over knots miles per hour. Many companies have come from general aviation beginnings to lead the forefront of aviation overall.
However, while the Wright Brothers and their feat of completing the first successful powered flight is very well known by the general population, many other aviation pioneers who helped develop the industry get less shine. Let's take a closer look at a few of the aviation engineers and entrepreneurs who helped form the general aviation industry as it is known today. Clyde Cessna was born on December 5, , in Hawthorne, Iowa. However, he grew up in rural Kansas. As a young boy, Clyde became interested in machinery, specifically fixing equipment around his family's farm.
This all changed, however, in , when Clyde saw an aerial exhibition of aircraft flying overhead. His interests switched to designing and building aircraft, which led him to move to New York and begin working at Queen Aeroplane Company. Clyde built his first airplane in , which he called the Silverwing. The Silverwing was a wooden monoplane powered by an Elbridge motorboat motor that provided the aircraft with only 40 horsepower.
