Who invented the airplane?

Who invented the airplane?

The idea of flying has fascinated men since ancient days. In fact, one of our most legends tells of Icarus, who fastened wings to his body with wax in order to fly. However, when he flew off towards the sun, the wax melted and he fell to his death. 

Centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci made sketches of a flying machine that used manpower, and other artistes and dreamers. The earliest flying machines were made during 19th century. They were actually huge kites and gliders and had no power. In fact, nobody could make a heavier-than-air machine that was equipped with its own power. 

Professor Samuel Longely, secretary of Smithsonian Institution of Washington D.C. was the first man who demonstrated that such a machine could be built. He built two machines, each 3.5 meters wide and 4.5 meters long, driven by 1.5 horsepower steam engines. In 1896, these two models were successfully flown. On 7th October, 1903 Longely’s full-size flying machine was tested, and was wrecked. On 7th December, 1903 Oriville and Wilbur Wright were successful in making man’s first flight in a heavier-than-air machine with its own power. They made one flight of 30 meters in 12 seconds and another flight of 260 meters in 59 seconds at kitty Hawn, North Carolina.