Pilots, Planes and Pioneers

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hile the Wright brothers may have been the first to make a sustained, controlled flight, they were just two among hundreds of brave men and women who helped to give the world its wings during the earliest days of aviation. Their Flyer was but one of many historically important aircraft. Below are brief descriptions and photos of some of the most important people and planes, and where available resources and links where you can find more information. In some cases, contributors have supplied expanded histories and biographies. Those are listed at the right and linked below.

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Count Ferdinand d’Esterno, France, in 1864 published the first scientific observations of the effects of the wind on a wing in his pamphlet Du Vol des Oiseaux. It called attention to the soaring flight of birds and promoted gliding as the most likely way for man to learn to fly. The Count also designed and patented a bird-like glider that may very well have influenced Ader's and Lilienthal's later designs, but it was never built or tested.
 

Ferdinand d'Esterno's glider design, published in 1864.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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"Aviation is proof that – given the will – we can do the impossible."
 Eddie Rickenbacker

 

 

A History of the Airplane/Pilots, Planes and Pioneers E

Biographies of Aviation Pioneers

 

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