Santos Dumont (aviator)

Alberto Santos Dumont was a pioneering Brazilian aviator born in 1873, renowned for his contributions to early aviation. He designed and successfully flew the 14-bis, an aeroplane that took off and landed on its own, in 1906, demonstrating controlled powered flight. Dumont’s innovations helped prove that heavier-than-air aircraft could fly reliably, inspiring future development of airplanes. His work was fundamental in establishing practical aviation, and he is celebrated as a national hero in Brazil and a key figure in making powered, controlled flight a reality.