Early flight: Otto Lilienthal

Before 1881, attempts to develop airplanes and gliders were occasional and sporadic. Lilienthal changed all that. Indeed, Lilienthal's efforts broke the 'respectability barrier' that haunted serious efforts to develop airplanes. Before Lilienthal, building a heavier-than-air craft was widely considered to be the province of dreamers and fools; afterwords it seemed possible to fly. Thus, his efforts mark the beginning of the experimental period of active research on heavier-than-air flight. Lilienthal developed eighteen different models of his gliders over a span of 5 years. His efforts received worldwide publicity, and his successes lent others the courage to follow in his footsteps.

Also Visit the Otto Lilienthal Museum!