early flight

Early flight refers to the initial experiments and attempts to achieve powered, controlled flight by humans, dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Pioneers like the Wright brothers developed early aircraft to understand aerodynamics, propulsion, and control in the air. These efforts involved testing small, handcrafted machines that laid the foundation for modern aviation. Early flights were often short, risky, and experimental, but they demonstrated that sustained, controlled flight was possible and paved the way for the complex aircraft used today.