Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using
either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.

Common examples of aircraft include airplanes, helicopters, airships (including blimps), gliders, paramotors and hot air

balloons.

Aircraft
The human activity that surrounds aircraft is called aviation.

The science of aviation, including designing and building aircraft, is called aeronautics. 

Crewed aircraft are flown by an onboard pilot, but unmanned aerial vehicles may be remotely controlled or self-
controlled by onboard computers.

Aircraft may be classified by different criteria, such as lift type, aircraft propulsion, usage and others.

History
Flying model craft and stories of manned flight go back many centuries; however, the first manned ascent —
and safe descent — in modern times took place by larger hot-air balloons developed in the 18th century.
Each of the two World Wars led to great technical advances. Consequently, the history of aircraft can be
divided into five eras:
Pioneers of flight, from the earliest experiments to 1914.
First World War, 1914 to 1918.
Aviation between the World Wars, 1918 to 1939.
Second World War, 1939 to 1945.
Postwar era, also called the Jet Age, 1945 to the present day.

The history of aviation extends for more than two thousand years, from the earliest forms of aviation such
as kites and attempts at tower jumping to supersonic and hypersonic flight by powered, heavier-than-air jets.
Kite flying in China dates back to several hundred years BC and slowly spread around the world. It is thought to
be the earliest example of man-made flight. Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century dream of flight found expression
in several rational but unscientific designs, though he did not attempt to construct any of them.
The discovery of hydrogen gas in the 18th century led to the invention of the hydrogen balloon, at almost
exactly the same time that the Montgolfier brothers rediscovered the hot-air balloon and began manned
flights. Various theories in mechanics by physicists during the same period of time, notably fluid
dynamics and Newton's laws of motion, led to the foundation of modern aerodynamics, most notably by Sir
George Cayley. Balloons, both free-flying and tethered, began to be used for military purposes from the end of
the 18th century, with the French government establishing Balloon Companies during the Revolution.
Experiments with gliders provided the groundwork for heavier-than-air craft, and by the early-20th century,
advances in engine technology and aerodynamics made controlled, powered flight possible for the first time.
The modern aeroplane with its characteristic tail was established by 1909 and from then on the history of the
aeroplane became tied to the development of more and more powerful engines.

The first great ships of the air were the rigid dirigible balloons pioneered by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, which
soon became synonymous with airships and dominated long-distance flight until the 1930s, when large flying
boats became popular. After World War II, the flying boats were in their turn replaced by land planes, and the
new and immensely powerful jet engine revolutionised both air travel and military aviation.
In the latter part of the 20th century, the advent of digital electronics produced great advances in flight
instrumentation and "fly-by-wire" systems. The 21st century saw the large-scale use of pilotless drones for
military, civilian and leisure use. With digital controls, inherently unstable aircraft such as flying wings became
possible.
In the latter part of the 20th century, the advent of digital electronics produced great advances in flight
instrumentation and "fly-by-wire" systems. The 21st century saw the large-scale use of pilotless drones for
military, civilian and leisure use. With digital controls, inherently unstable aircraft such as flying wings became
possible.
Etymology
The term aviation, noun of action from stem of Latin avis "bird" with suffix -ation meaning action or progress,
was coined in 1863 by French pioneer Guillaume Joseph Gabriel de La Landelle (1812–1886) in "Aviation ou
Navigation aérienne sans ballons".
Primitive beginnings
Tower jumping
Since antiquity, there have been stories of men strapping birdlike wings, stiffened cloaks or other devices to
themselves and attempting to fly, typically by jumping off a tower. The Greek legend of Daedalus and Icarus is
one of the earliest known; others originated from ancient Asia and the European Middle Age. During this early
period, the issues of lift, stability and control were not understood, and most attempts ended in serious injury
or death.
The Andalusian scientist Abbas ibn Firnas (810–887 AD) is claimed to have made a jump in Córdoba, Spain,
covering his body with vulture feathers and attaching two wings to his arms. Muhammad I of Córdoba's 9th-
century court poet Mu'min ibn Said and 17th-century Algerian historian Ahmed Mohammed al-Maqqari, based
on sources no longer extant, recount that Firnas flew some distance before landing with some injuries,
attributed to his lacking a tail (as birds use to land). According to John Harding, Ibn Firnas' glider was the first
attempt at heavier-than-air flight in aviation history. Writing in the 12th century, William of Malmesbury stated
that the 11th-century Benedictine monk Eilmer of Malmesbury attached wings to his hands and feet and flew
a short distance,but broke both legs while landing, also having neglected to make himself a tail.
Many others made well-documented jumps in the following centuries. As late as 1811, Albrecht
Berblinger constructed an ornithopter and jumped into the Danube at Ulm.
The kite may have been the first form of man-made aircraft. It was invented in China possibly as far back as the
5th century BC by Mozi (Mo Di) and Lu Ban (Gongshu Ban). Later designs often emulated flying insects, birds,
and other beasts, both real and mythical. Some were fitted with strings and whistles to make musical sounds
while flying. Ancient and medieval Chinese sources describe kites being used to measure distances, test the
wind, lift men, signal, and communicate and send messages.
Kites spread from China around the world. After its introduction into India, the kite further evolved into
the fighter kite, where an abrasive line is used to cut down other kites.

Man-carrying kites
Man-carrying kites are believed to have been used extensively in ancient China, for both civil and military
purposes and sometimes enforced as a punishment. An early recorded flight was that of the prisoner Yuan
Huangtou, a Chinese prince, in the 6th century AD. Stories of man-carrying kites also occur in Japan, following
the introduction of the kite from China around the seventh century AD. It is said that at one time there was a
Japanese law against man-carrying kites.
Rotor wings
The use of a rotor for vertical flight has existed since 400 BC in the form of the bamboo-copter, an ancient
Chinese toy. The similar "moulinet à noix" (rotor on a nut) appeared in Europe in the 14th century AD.
Hot air balloons
From ancient times the Chinese have understood that hot air rises and have applied the principle to a type of
small hot air balloon called a sky lantern. A sky lantern consists of a paper balloon under or just inside which a
small lamp is placed. Sky lanterns are traditionally launched for pleasure and during festivals.
According to Joseph Needham, such lanterns were known in China from the 3rd century BC. Their military use
is attributed to the general Zhuge Liang (180–234 AD, honorific title Kongming), who is said to have used them
to scare the enemy troops.
There is evidence that the Chinese also "solved the problem of aerial navigation" using balloons, hundreds of
years before the 18th century