History of flight | Airplanes, Dates, & Facts - Britannica
Thus, the story of the invention of the airplane begins in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, with the first serious research into aerodynamics—the study of ...
aviation
In the history of flight, the most important landmarks and events include an understanding of the dynamic reaction of lifting surfaces (or wings), building absolutely reliable engines that produce sufficient power to propel an airframe, and solving the problem of flight control in three dimensions. At the start of the 20th century, the Wright brothers demonstrated that the basic technical problems associated with heavier-than-air flying machines had been overcome, and military and civil <anchor>aviation</anchor> developed quickly afterward.
Aviation | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica
Aviation \| Definition, History, & Facts \| Britannica

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[aviation](https://www.britannica.com/technology/aviation)

Table of Contents


Introduction
[References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/technology/aviation/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](/facts/aviation)

[Images & Videos](https://www.britannica.com/technology/aviation/images-videos)

[![Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird](https://cdn.britannica.com/31/126431-004-49E72064/flight-Lockheed-SR-71-Blackbird.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/31/126431-050-F6B886A5/flight-Lockheed-SR-71-Blackbird.jpg)[![Wright brothers](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/103523-004-F9A19A6F/Orville-Wright-Wilbur-flight-craft-North-Carolina-December-17-1903.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/103523-050-C1D653C7/Orville-Wright-Wilbur-flight-craft-North-Carolina-December-17-1903.jpg)[![Sopwith Camel](https://cdn.britannica.com/20/167720-004-E433614B/William-George-Barker-World-War-I-Sopwith-1918.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/20/167720-004-E433614B/William-George-Barker-World-War-I-Sopwith-1918.jpg)[![Airbus A380](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/93557-120-B9430AFF/Airbus-A380.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/93557-050-1F497F11/Airbus-A380.jpg)[![helicopter](https://cdn.britannica.com/00/148900-004-9A7791FA/helicopter-flight.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/00/148900-050-4BD56587/helicopter-flight.jpg)[![aviation: Chicago](https://cdn.britannica.com/62/76162-004-75523D02/Photograph-flight-globe-Chicago-Sept-8-1924.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/62/76162-050-59DCA921/Photograph-flight-globe-Chicago-Sept-8-1924.jpg)[![air distances from United States](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/104205-004-259F5B96/MAP-air-distances-gateway-cities-places.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/104205-050-2E8C4DD3/MAP-air-distances-gateway-cities-places.jpg)[![View the launching of the Bell X-1 aircraft from the bomb bay of a B-29 bomber](https://cdn.britannica.com/13/111213-138-62EC5A87/bomb-bay-aircraft-Bell-X-1-bomber-1947.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](/video/111213/bomb-bay-aircraft-Bell-X-1-bomber-1947)[![Marvel at the H-4 Hercules flying boat, the flying foxes of genus Pteropus, and the giraffe-sized pterosaur](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/197163-138-079BAB56/things-seven-flight.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](/video/197163/things-seven-flight)[![See how air traffic controllers at Frankfurt Airport, Germany manage the rush hour traffic in the skies](https://cdn.britannica.com/65/179865-138-E7401D12/Arnim-Stief-pilot-airplane-Frankfurt-Airport.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](/video/179865/Arnim-Stief-pilot-airplane-Frankfurt-Airport)

Quizzes


[![Sextant. Celestial navigation at sea. Sailor using sextant. Travel and navigation.](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/166072-131-05831FA8/instrument-navigation-navigator-sky-altitude-Sun-star.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/travel-and-navigation)

[Travel and Navigation](/quiz/travel-and-navigation)

[![Concorde. Front end of one of the 20 Concorde supersonic airplanes. A joint British French production they flew for 30 years (1973-2003).](https://cdn.britannica.com/27/169427-131-9FF25CC7/Concorde-end-one-airplanes-British-production-French.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/navigating-the-sky)

[Navigating the Sky](/quiz/navigating-the-sky)

[![Close-up profile view of American aviator Amelia Earhart sitting in the cockpit of a helicopter. Earhart wears a bomber jacket and flight goggles on her head.](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/164576-131-6B4BA221/Amelia-Earhart.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/early-aviation)

[Early Aviation](/quiz/early-aviation)

[![Hindenburg zeppelin crashing, 1937](https://cdn.britannica.com/78/194978-131-7B55B72C/Hindenburg-zeppelin-crashing-1937.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/transportation-and-technology-firsts-quiz)

[Transportation and Technology Firsts Quiz](/quiz/transportation-and-technology-firsts-quiz)

Related Questions


- [What did the Wright brothers invent?](/question/What-did-the-Wright-brothers-invent)

Read Next


[![Still from the film Deliverance, 1919. The story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. View shows Keller in the cockpit/front seat of an airplane.](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/221409-131-22325294/Helen-Keller-Anne-Sullivan-Deliverance-1919.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/how-did-helen-keller-fly-a-plane)

[How Did Helen Keller Fly a Plane?](/story/how-did-helen-keller-fly-a-plane)

[![Car with a pickle design in the Zagreb Red Bull Soapbox Race, Zagreb, Croatia, September 14, 2019. (games, races, sports)](https://cdn.britannica.com/86/239086-131-80CE73A7/Red-Bull-Soapbox-Race-Zagreb-Croatia.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/10-unusual-sports)

[10 Unusual Sports](/list/10-unusual-sports)

[![The Apple II](https://cdn.britannica.com/04/24404-131-BA7B1B4F/Apple-II.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/10-inventions-that-changed-your-world)

[10 Inventions That Changed Your World](/list/10-inventions-that-changed-your-world)

[![Passengers waiting in a row for boarding on an airport to a flight to America](https://cdn.britannica.com/46/194746-131-707A3E7A/Passengers-row-airport-flight-America.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/why-do-airlines-overbook-seats-on-flights)

[Why Do Airlines Overbook Seats on Flights?](/story/why-do-airlines-overbook-seats-on-flights)

Discover


[![A group of diverse individuals, who represent various occupations, stand with their arms raised in the air. labor day; laborers; construction worker; teacher; nurse; doctor; assistant; office staff; blue collar; workforce](https://cdn.britannica.com/40/239640-131-052DF02A/diverse-group-occupations-workforce.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/why-is-labor-day-celebrated-in-september)

[Why Is Labor Day Celebrated in September?](/story/why-is-labor-day-celebrated-in-september)

[![Russian grand duchess Anastasia; undated photograph. (Anastasiya Nikolayevna, Tsar Nicholas II)](https://cdn.britannica.com/68/194168-131-CFE3851A/Anastasia.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/did-duchess-anastasia-survive-her-familys-execution)

[Did Duchess Anastasia Survive Her Family’s Execution?](/story/did-duchess-anastasia-survive-her-familys-execution)

[![The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/159994-131-8E828D22/Battle-of-New-Orleans-oil-painting-E-1910.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/story/25-decade-defining-events-in-us-history)

[26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History](/story/25-decade-defining-events-in-us-history)

[![Clouds of smoke rise from fires at the World Trade Center Towers as a result of terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Photographed 9:54 am in Lower Manhattan.](https://cdn.britannica.com/24/199824-131-8B2223A9/smoke-rise-Clouds-fires-result-terrorist-attack-September-11-2001.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/timeline-of-the-september-11-attacks)

[Timeline of the September 11 Attacks](/list/timeline-of-the-september-11-attacks)

[![President Kennedy address on Test Ban Treaty, White House, Oval Office, July 26, 1963. President John F. Kennedy, President Kennedy](https://cdn.britannica.com/46/146446-131-83C57663/John-F-Kennedy-Test-Ban-Treaty-Oval-July-26-1963.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/11-memorable-quotes-from-us-presidential-debates)

[11 Memorable Quotes from U.S. Presidential Debates](/list/11-memorable-quotes-from-us-presidential-debates)

[![Andrew Jackson delivering a speech while on his way to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration in 1829. From Harper's Weekly, 1881.](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/182194-131-A1441287/Andrew-Jackson-town-supporters-inauguration-way-1829.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/5-remarkably-close-us-presidential-elections)

[5 Remarkably Close U.S. Presidential Elections](/list/5-remarkably-close-us-presidential-elections)

[![Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada,  2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics](https://cdn.britannica.com/13/134913-131-D9520745/Ice-Sledge-Hockey-Canada-Cup-USA-ice-2010.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/list/10-best-hockey-players-of-all-time)

[10 Best Hockey Players of All Time](/list/10-best-hockey-players-of-all-time)


Contents


[Technology](/browse/Technology)[Cars & Other Vehicles](/browse/Cars-Vehicles)

# aviation



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Also known as: air transportation, air travel, civil aviation, flight


Written and fact-checked by


[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.](/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)

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Last Updated:

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• [Article History](https://www.britannica.com/technology/aviation/additional-info#history)


Table of Contents


[![Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird](https://cdn.britannica.com/31/126431-050-F6B886A5/flight-Lockheed-SR-71-Blackbird.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/31/126431-050-F6B886A5/flight-Lockheed-SR-71-Blackbird.jpg)

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

[See all media](https://www.britannica.com/technology/aviation/images-videos)

Key People: [Wright brothers](/biography/Wright-brothers)[Theodore von Kármán](/biography/Theodore-von-Karman)[Richard E. Byrd](/biography/Richard-E-Byrd)[Charles Lindbergh](/biography/Charles-Lindbergh)[Auguste Piccard](/biography/Auguste-Piccard-Swiss-Belgian-physicist)_(Show more)_

Related Topics: [history of flight](/technology/history-of-flight)[airport](/technology/airport)[balloon flight](/technology/balloon-flight)[aerobatics](/sports/aerobatics)[stunt flying](/topic/stunt-flying)_(Show more)_

[See all related content →](/facts/aviation)

**aviation**, the development and operation of heavier-than-air aircraft. The term _military aviation_ refers to the development and use of military aircraft, while the term _civil aviation_ refers to all nonmilitary aviation, such as air transportation provided by airlines or the carrying of cargo by commercial aircraft. _(Read Orville Wright’s 1929 biography of his brother, Wilbur.)_ A brief treatment of aviation follows. For full treatment of military aviation, _see_ military aircraft. For civil aviation, _see_ airplane; history of flight. The first objects to fly that carried people were balloons, which were pioneered in France by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783. Some ...(100 of 444 words)

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