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Leonardo da Vinci designed a mass amount of mechanical devices, parachutes for example, and studied the structure and flight of birds. In about 1485, da Vinci drew diagrams and sketches for a human-powered ornithopter, a wing-flapping device with the intention to fly.

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In 1799, Sir George Cayley, British inventor and scientist, established the modern layout and design of an airplane as a "fixed-wing flying machine with separate systems for lift, propulsion, and control."

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Cayley's monoplane design is built and published. It is said to have a "strikingly modern appearance".  The model featured an adjustable cruciform tail, a kite-shaped wing mounted at a high angle of incidence, and a moveable weight that alters the center of gravity. Above is a sketch of George Cayley's model monoplane glider.

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Sir George Cayley flew the first successful glider model. With this, the first winged aircraft is made.

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1853 would be the year Sir George Cayley's work would reach its highest point, which is the completion of a full-scale glider that would carry a hesitant volunteer on the first recorded manned glider flight.

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During the years of 1849-1933, the works of German brothers Otto and Gustav Lilienthal are arguably considered to be "the most important aerial effort prior to the Wright Brothers." Specifically Otto Lilienthal (pictured above), demonstrated that unpowered human flight is indeed possible and total control of an aerial device was within reach, with 2,000+ recorded flights.

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This is a picture of Otto Lilienthal before takeoff near a small village, Derwitz, outside of Potsdam, Germany.

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On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright exchanged turns piloting their flying machine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville's flight lasted 12 seconds and 120 feet into the air, and Wilbur's flight lasted 59 seconds and traveled 852 feet. On this day, the Wright brothers became the first people in history to demonstrate sustained flight of a heavier-than-air machine under the total control of the pilot.

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Richard Pearse, an inventor and farmer from New Zealand, makes his first recorded powered flight of more than a few seconds, however, some witnesses argue his first flight might've been made just before the Wright brothers'. However, there is evidence proving that Richard Pearse did not achieve controlled flight before the Wright brothers in 1903.

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Richard Pearse's monoplane resembled a modern-day microlight. Witness accounts suggest he flew it before the Wright brothers flew theirs. This monoplane is a replica from the South Canterbury Museum in Timaru.

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Richard Pearse's monoplane resembled a modern-day microlight. Witness accounts suggest he flew it before the Wright brothers flew theirs. This monoplane is a replica from the South Canterbury Museum in Timaru.

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During World War I, better airplanes were needed for fighting purposes. Aircrafts became larger as the demand for bombers increased. These advanced aircrafts could carry large amounts of explosives in order to be dropped onto strategic targets, such as dockyards and factories. Long range and reliability were depended on as targets were often behind enemy lines. Many advances were made to the airplane such as faster and lighter plane. By the end of World War I, aircrafts had dramatically improved and developed.

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As well as being developed for military use, aviation companies began looking at the possibilities of how to gain more income earning passenger flights. In 1914, the first passenger service was started. In January 1914, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line began a service between St. Petersburg and Tampa across Tampa Bay in Florida. Although being a 20 minute flight, this was a remarkable milestone that established the start of commercial aviation.

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The use of airplane innovated when the United States Postal Service (USPS) began using airplanes in order to deliver mail nationwide.

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In 1925, new lightweight and air cooled engines were introduced. These engines allowed airplanes to run quicker and more efficiently.

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In 1933, a popular aerospace company, made the Boeing 247 aircraft, which could seat a maximum of 10 people.

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In 1969, larger passenger jets were made and Boeing came out with the Boeing 747 and the jet was large enough to exceed the previous 10 passengers limit on the previous Boeing 247.

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B-2 bombers were developed. Engineers invented places using non-metal material that weren't radio-detectable, like the airplanes used in World War II in which engineers developed airplane radars that could detect flying airplanes from a variety of long distances. Shortly after, stealth planes were invented.

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As of 2020, the production of greater and more efficient airplanes still continue and new innovations to airplanes have yet to come.