History of Aviation and Balloons

Early Balloon Developments

• Hot air balloons and gas balloons were developed in the late 1700s.

Balloons in Warfare

• Balloons were used for reconnaissance in the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War.

Igor Sikorsky

• Developed helicopters and founded the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in the USA.

Early Aviation Safety

• Pilot licenses became mandatory between 1910-1927 to ensure safety and encourage competition.

Dirigibles and Airships

• A dirigible is a steerable, lighter-than-air balloon.
• The first official dirigible flight occurred in 1852 by Henri Giffard.
• Ferdinand von Zeppelin was the most influential dirigible developer.

World War I and Aviation

• World War I began on July 28, 1914.
• Billy Mitchell was a significant U.S. aviation figure in WWI, advocating for air power's importance.
• Aircraft were primarily used for observation and spying in WWI.
• The forward-firing system, allowing bullets to pass through propellers without hitting them, was developed in 1915 by Anthony Fokker.

Aviation Pioneers

• Octave Chanute published "Progress in Flying Machines."
• The Wright Brothers achieved the first powered, steered, and controlled flight.
• Glenn Curtiss was a main competitor to the Wright Brothers.
• Thomas Selfridge became the first "passenger" killed in a practical, controlled, powered aircraft.
• Harriet Quimby was the first woman to own and operate a flight school.

Early Aviation Companies

• The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, established in 1914, became the first "passenger" airline.
• Stringfellow and Henson, aviation pioneers in England, developed the Aerial Steam Carriage in the mid-1800s.

Wright Brothers and their Impact

• Octave Chanute was a friend and mentor to the Wright Brothers.
• The Wright Brothers' most famous flight occurred on December 17, 1903.

Aviation Competitions

• Flying competitions were sponsored by various individuals and organizations before and after WWI, including royal families and wealthy patrons.

Airmail

• Airmail development in the United States began in 1918, paving the way for the commercial aviation industry.
• The Air Mail Act of 1925 allowed private airlines to carry mail.

The Aerial Experiment Association

• The Aerial Experiment Association was founded by Alexander Graham Bell to develop practical aircraft.
• Members like Glenn Curtiss benefited from the association, leaving a legacy of early aviation advancements.

Alberto Santos-Dumont

• Pioneered controlled flight in Europe.
• Designed dirigibles and airplanes.

Charles Lindbergh

• Achieved the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris on May 20-21, 1927.

The Wright Brothers' Patent Wars

• The Wright Brothers' main opponent was Glenn Curtiss in patent disputes.
• The Wright Brothers were granted a patent for the method of controlling a flying machine.

Flight Training and Instruction

• Flight training was often conducted by military instructors and experienced pilots.

Amelia Earhart

• Became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic in 1928.

Aviation Figures

• George Cayley, considered the "Father of Aviation," for his pioneering work in aerodynamics and fixed-wing aircraft.

Aviation Regulations and Industry

• The Air Commerce Act of 1926 established federal regulations for aviation safety and navigation.

Barnstorming

• Post-WWI pilots performed aerial stunts and gave rides, popularizing aviation.

Early Airmail Development

• Pilots, postal service, and the military were primary contributors to early airmail operations.