: Chinese kites (400 BC) paved the way for later gliders. Pioneers : Leonardo da Vinci
Sir George Cayley’s coachman flew for over a mile.
In the 1400s, Leonardo da Vinci brought a more systematic approach, sketching detailed plans for flying machines like the "ornithopter," which featured flapping wings. Though never built, his work paved the way for future pioneers to consider the mechanical requirements of flight.