The Historyof flight

Leonardo Da Vinci In1492 Leonardo da vinci ( an Italian artist and inventor) studied anatomy and flight. He concluded that humans can't fly because their muscles are too weak and our bones are too heavy.

He designed some of the first models of planes and helicopters.

 

Isaac NewtonAs Newtonian science became increasingly accepted on the Continent, and especially after a general peace was restored in 1714, following the War of the Spanish Succession, Newton became the most highly esteemed natural philosopher in Europe. His last decades were passed in revising his major works, polishing his studies of ancient history, and defending himself against critics, as well as carrying out his official duties. Newton was modest, diffident, and a man of simple tastes. He was angered by criticism or opposition, and harboured resentment; he was harsh towards enemies but generous to friends. In government, and at the Royal Society, he proved an able administrator. He never married and lived modestly, but was buried with great pomp in Westminster Abbey.
Sir George Caley A true scientist, he maintained meticulous records of his observations and findings, documentation which was to show the way to later pioneers. Observing that birds soared long distances by simply twisting their arched wing surfaces, he deduced that fixed wing machines would fly if the wings were cambered. in 1804 he flew a model of such a glider, and in 1808 a successful full scale version was flown as a kite. A small boy whose name is not recorded, became the first person in history to fly when in 1849 he made a short flight in a Cayley glider. In 1853 the first man-carrying Cayley glider rose from Brompton Dale with his coachman as its passenger

The Wright Brothers The Wright household was a stimulating place for the children. Orville wrote of his childhood: "We were lucky enough to grow up in an environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused curiosity." The house had two libraries: Books on theology were kept in the bishop's study, while the downstairs library had a large and diverse collection. Although Bishop Wright was a firm disciplinarian, both parents were loving and the family was a close one.

Sir Frank Whittle In May 1941, the first jet powered British plane took off from a Midlands runway on an historic 17 minute flight. Thus the British jet age had begun! The man who made it possible was a Coventry-born engineer, Sir Frank Whittle, "the father of the jet engine".Frank Whittle was born in Earlsdon in 1907, a time when powered flight was still in it's infancy. His boyhood coincided with the development generally of aviation, including the use of aircraft in the First World War, the formation of the RAF in 1918, Alcock and Brown's flight across the Atlantic in 1919. Whittle grew up in an engineering background (his father owned a general engineering business in Leamington Spa) but he was particularly fascinated by aircraft. After leaving school in 1923, he joined the RAF as an apprentice aircraft fitter. Later, he was selected for pilot training at the RAF Staff College, Cranwell, where he was soon flying solo