Amazing History of Flight
In “Amazing History of Flight,” Episode, #139, Meredith Curtis introduces you to the amazing history of flight! Aviation history is thrilling. Meredith touches on some of the highlights and the men who risked their lives because they believed they could somehow fly. Unit study, delight-directed suggestions given too!

 

 

 

 
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Show Notes
Each time I fly, I’m overwhelmed by the miracle of flight—that we can soar through the air on a huge heavy plane!

Aviation history is thrilling. I want to dive into every detail! Instead, I’ll just touch on some of the highlights from early flight adventures. I’m hoping this will inspire your family to explore more!
Chinese Kites
A thousand years before Jesus was born, the Chinese people invented kites. They flew on their kites to spy on enemy troops.
Monk Oliver Breaks His Legs
A thousand years after Jesus’ birth, Benedictine Monk Oliver jumps from his Abbey with the aid of wings. After a very brief flight, he falls and breaks his legs.
Marco Polo Observes Humans Flying on Kites
When Marco Polo visited China, he was amazed to see huge kites carrying people!
Leonardo Designs Flying Machines
Leonardo Da Vinci draws a flying machine after studying bird wings.
Hezarfen Celebi Leaps & Lands
In Turkey, Hezarfen Celebi jumps from a tower and flies, landing in the market place of Scutari.
Model Hot Air Balloon
In Portugal, Father Bartolomeu de Gusmao creates a model of a hot air balloon. Then, he demonstrates how it works to King John V in 1709.
First Hot Air Balloon Rides
The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Jacques, create a hot air balloon in 1783. The have 3 successful flights: with human passengers, with animal passengers, and unmanned. The balloon is powered by burning wood.

The next year, the Montgolfier brothers fly in their hot air balloon with 6 passengers. Hot air balloons become popular!
Andre Parachutes Out of a Balloon
In 1787, Andre Jacques Garnerin leaps from a hot air balloon 2,000 feet in the air. Lucky for him, he is wearing a newly-invented parachute.
Sir George Cayley Builds a Glider
In 1799, Sir George Caylay of England created a design of a fixed-wing aircraft. 5 years later, he built and the first successful model glider.

In 1852, Sir George and his grandson George John Cayley completed a large glider that flew an adult.

Sir George Cayley was one of the first people to understand and identify weight, lift, drag, and thrust. He is considered the Father of Aviation.
Clement Flies a Steam-Powered Monoplane
In 1890, Clement Ader flew a steam-powered 1-wing plane a distance of 160 feet outside of Paris.
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal enjoys several glider flights in the summer of 1891. These flights were observed to be safe and repeatable. People began to see gliding in a different light.

Over the next few years, he improved his designs. Unfortunately, he died in 1896 in a glider accident.
Zeppelin Airships
In 1900, the airship Zeppelin takes her first flight.
Wright Brothers
In 1892, the Orville and Wilbur Wright open a bicycle shop. However, their hearts are on flight. In 1900, the brothers took their first glider flight. In 1902, they modified their glider to make it more flyable.

On December 17, 1903,