AeroHistoryFR

1783 — 2026

A world history of aviation, from the hot-air balloon to the A380

Dated milestones, aircraft profiles and historic sites: a measured, well-sourced account of two centuries of aviation.

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Grandstands crowded with spectators in hats, a biplane flying over the Bétheny plain.
Reims Aviation Week, August 1909: crowds in the grandstands and aeroplanes in the sky. · Photo : Auteur inconnu · Public domain · Source : Wikimedia Commons

Six milestones

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  1. 1783

    First free manned balloon flight

    The Montgolfier brothers' demonstrations pave the way for human flight in a hot-air balloon. In Paris, Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arlandes make the first documented free flight with people aboard. Their balloon cannot be steered and drifts with the wind. The experiment establishes that a crew can leave the ground and return safely in an aerostat.

  2. 1903

    The Wright Flyer flies at Kitty Hawk

    Following their glider trials, the Wright brothers bring together an engine, propellers and effective flight controls. Near Kitty Hawk, they achieve the first powered, sustained and controlled flights of a piloted aeroplane. They make four flights that day. Their success establishes control as a central requirement in the development of aviation.

  3. 1935

    First flight of the Douglas DC-3

    Airlines are seeking aircraft that can make passenger services profitable. The Douglas DST prototype, the sleeper version from which the DC-3 develops, makes its first flight. The family's rugged construction and operating economics encourage its adoption on civil networks. The DC-3 becomes a benchmark in air transport and also gives rise to numerous military versions.

  4. 1969

    First flight of the Boeing 747

    Traffic growth encourages manufacturers to increase airliner capacity substantially. The Boeing 747 makes its first flight near Seattle. Its wide fuselage accommodates two aisles, while the upper deck gives it a distinctive profile. Its capacity changes the economics of major routes while requiring airports to adapt their infrastructure.

  5. 1972

    First flight of the Airbus A300

    European industrial cooperation produces a new family of airliners. The Airbus A300 makes its first flight at Toulouse. It is the first twin-engine widebody airliner. The programme lays the industrial and commercial foundations on which Airbus subsequently builds its range.

  6. 2005

    First flight of the Airbus A380

    Airbus designs the A380 to carry large numbers of passengers between major hubs. The aircraft makes its first flight at Toulouse. It has two passenger decks extending along the full length of the cabin. Its development requires an international industrial effort and changes at airports that will handle it.

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