Leonardo da Vinci designed several flying machines. This one, called an ornithopter, simulated the motion of a bird flying.

A kite festival in Long Beach, Washington, displays several colorful designs. Kites, invented about 2500 years ago, were the first form of aircraft. Although historically used for scientific and military purposes, kites are now flown almost exclusively for pleasure.

One of the biggest difficulties faced by early would-be pilots was finding an engine that was both powerful and light. Many models, such as the Henson and Stringfellow\'92s "Aerial Steam Carriage"(shown here) might have flown as early as 1845 with adequate engines. Unfortunately, the only engines available were steam engines, which were too weak or too heavy for successful flight. It was not until the arrival of the compact, relatively lightweight gas engine that planes were able to get off the ground.

in 1908, five years after he made the world's first successful, sustained flight. The Wright brothers' experiments with heavier-than-air flight had launched Flyer I on December 17, 1903 near Kill Devil Hill in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The first flight lasted about 12 seconds, and the plane traveled 36.5 m (120 ft) at an altitude of roughly 3 m (9.9 ft) and an airspeed of 48 km/h (30 mi/h). Wilbur Wright made a longer, 59-second flight later on the same day.

Precursor to the famous Sopwith Camel fighter of World War I, the Sopwith Pup was a light, maneuverable airplane. It traveled at speeds of 185 kmh (115 mph) and was among the first planes to use the new aileron wing design. Ailerons are hinged flaps on the tips of wings used to turn, or bank, the plane.