Successful powered flight was the culmination of centuries of consideration, from its earliest documented record in England. The early dreamers and pioneers of aviation included a 13th century cleric, a world-famous Renaissance artist, an inventive country squire, mariners who sought to sail in the sky and writers who helped lay the groundwork for the first century of flight.

To see a short description of each pioneer, please 'left click' on the images below

Roger Bacon

Leonardo da Vinci

Emanuel Swedenborg

Sir George Cayley

John Stringfellow

Frederick Marriott

Jean-Marie Le Bris

Félix du Temple

La Landelle, Ponton d'Amécourt, Nadar & Verne

Francis Wenham

Horatio Phillips

Alphonse Pénaud

Victor Tatin

Louis Mouillard

Aleksandr Mozhaiski