Airplane

In 1799, Sir George Cayley invents the concept of the fixed-wing aircraft, a pivotal moment in the history of aviation.

Sir George Cayley builds and flies the world's first successful model glider in 1804, laying the foundation for modern aviation.

In 1846, Sir George Cayley was first acknowledged as the 'father of the aeroplane'. He conducted groundbreaking studies on the physics of flight and designed the first modern heavier-than-air craft, making significant contributions to the field of aeronautics.

The Wright brothers successfully conducted the first flight of an object heavier than air in 1903.

Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled flight in a heavier-than-air flying machine. The flight covered 120 feet in 12 seconds at 10:35 a.m. in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

On October 4, 1905, the Wright brothers successfully demonstrated their first practical flying machine with Orville Wright piloting it over Huffman Prairie near Dayton, Ohio. This marked a significant milestone in the history of aviation.

On October 5, 1905, Wilbur Wright flew the Flyer III for 24 miles in 39 minutes and 23 seconds. This flight marked a significant milestone in aviation history as it demonstrated the practicality and control of the aircraft, showcasing its potential for long-distance flights.

Igor Sikorsky sets an unofficial world distance record by flying a 1,590-mile round trip flight from Saint Petersburg to Kiev, Russia in the II'ya Muromets.

The first fighter plane was developed in 1915 for combat purposes during World War I.

Between May 16-27, 1919, the NC-4 (Navy Curtiss flying boats) became the first aircraft to span the Atlantic under American Lieutenant Commander A. C. Read.

On June 14-15, 1919, British Capt. John Alcock and Lt. Albert Brown made the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland in a Vickers Vimy aircraft.

Vickers Vimy G-EAOU landed in Darwin, Northern Australia on December 10, 1919, completing a 135-hour journey from England to Australia.

The development of lightweight aircooled radial engines in 1925 revolutionized aircraft propulsion.

Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, marking a significant milestone in aviation history.

From May 31 to June 9, 1928, Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm completed the first trans-Pacific flight from Oakland, California to Brisbane, Australia in the Southern Cross aircraft.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew made the first trans-Pacific flight from Oakland, California to Australia in three stages, covering approximately 7,400 miles. They faced challenges including flying through a massive lightning storm near the equator.

On June 17, 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane.

The jet engine was invented in 1930, marking a major advancement in aviation technology.

The Boeing 242 aircraft introduced in 1933 contributed to the evolution of commercial aviation.

Amelia Earhart Putnam completes a nonstop flight from Mexico City to Newark, New Jersey, setting a significant aviation milestone.

The B-17 'Flying Fortress,' the first successful American four-engine bomber, is revealed to the public.

The DC-3, the first successful passenger airliner, embarks on its maiden flight from Santa Monica, California.

In 1937, the era of jet engines began, marking a significant advancement in aviation technology and paving the way for faster and more efficient aircraft.

The Heinkel He 178, designed by Hans von Ohain, made the first jet-powered flight in history, paving the way for the jet age in aviation.

On October 14, 1947, Captain 'Chuck' Yeager piloted the Bell X-1 aircraft, breaking the sound barrier for the first time in history.

The Berlin airlift commences on June 26, 1948, led by the U.S., Britain, and France to supply West Berlin by air during the Soviet blockade, showcasing a remarkable humanitarian and logistical effort.

On July 20, 1948, 16 Lockheed F-80 jets of the U.S. Air Force 56th Fighter Group land in Stornway, Scotland, marking the first west-to-east Atlantic crossing by jet aircraft, highlighting the progress in transatlantic aviation.

The Boeing B-50A named Lucky Lady II achieves the first nonstop around-the-world flight on March 2, 1949, demonstrating the capabilities of long-range strategic bombers.

The De Havilland DH 106 Comet, the first jet-powered airliner, took its maiden flight on August 27, 1949. By 1952, it was in regular passenger service, offering quieter and faster flights.

In 1952, the Area Rule of Aircraft Design was a significant advancement in aerodynamics, influencing the design of faster and more efficient aircraft.

Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation collaborated to create the Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger jet.

The world's worst aviation disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, at Los Rodeos airport in Tenerife when a KLM Boeing 747 collided with a Pan American 747, resulting in significant casualties.

In 1986, the Voyager aircraft achieved the remarkable feat of being the first plane to circumnavigate the globe nonstop in just 9 days, using only one tank of fuel. This was made possible by its innovative use of carbon-composite materials, making it lighter and more fuel-efficient.

In July 2000, Air France Concorde F-BTSC crashed into a hotel at Gonesse, France, killing all 109 passengers on board and four individuals on the ground, leading to the grounding of all Concorde aircraft in the Air France and British Airways fleets.

The Airbus A380, the world's largest airliner, successfully made its maiden flight on April 27, 2005, departing from Blagnac International Airport in Toulouse, France. It has accommodation for up to 525 passengers in a three-class configuration.

In Afghanistan, an Army RQ-7B Shadow UAV collides with a United States Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo plane at an altitude of approximately 1,300 feet. The RQ-7B is completely destroyed, but the C-130 lands safely without injury to its crew.

The Airbus A350 successfully completes its first flight after eight years of development. The maiden flight marks a significant milestone in aviation history, watched by thousands of spectators.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappears during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board. The cause of the disappearance remains unknown, sparking a multinational search effort.

On July 18, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight was suspected to be downed by a surface-to-air missile over Ukraine near the Russian border. The incident raised international concerns and investigations were initiated to determine the cause of the crash.

During the Shoreham Airshow in Sussex, a military jet crashes into a busy road causing a massive fireball. The pilot survives the crash, but at least seven others are killed.

Seattle-based Boeing celebrates its 100-year anniversary, marking a century since William E. Boeing founded Pacific AeroProducts in 1916, becoming the world's largest builder of commercial and military airplanes.