HISTORY OF AVIATION

Humanity's desire to fly probably dates to the first time prehistoric man observed birds, an observation illustrated in the legendary story of Daedalus and Icarus. Daedalus was trapped on the island of Minos, and so built wings out of feathers and wax for himself and his son. His son Icarus flew too close to the sun and the wax melted -- the wings were destroyed and he fell to the sea, and to his death. The legend was designed to be a cautionary tale about attempting to reach heaven, similar to the Tower of Babel story in The Bible. Nevertheless, it exemplifies man's desire to fly. Aircraft designers have struggled to make their planes go faster, fly higher, and be controlled more easily. Engines have thus become steadily more compact and more powerful, in a sequence that stretches from steam engines to piston, jet and rocket engines. Planes have become more streamlined and their materials stronger and lighter. Initially airplanes were made of canvas and wood but today airplanes are made of aluminium, and increasingly, carbon fiber, which is prized for its light weight and strength. The methods used to control planes continue to advance. Initially planes were controlled by moving one's entire body (hang gliders) or warping the planes' wings (Wright brothers). Modern planes are controlled with the help of computers and other electronics, which can, like the brain of a bird, stabilize shapes that would otherwise be unstable in flight.