The history of aviation can be traced back to the late 18th century, when the Montgolfier brothers launched the first hot-air balloon in France in 1783. However, powered flight, which is the basis of modern aviation, did not emerge until the early 20th century.
The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are credited with the first successful powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft. On December 17, 1903, they flew their Wright Flyer I for 12 seconds over a distance of 120 feet (37 meters) at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This historic flight marked the beginning of the era of modern aviation.
After the Wright Brothers' flight, aviation technology rapidly advanced. In 1908, the first commercial airline, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, began operating in Florida, offering regular passenger flights over short distances. In 1914, the first scheduled international passenger flight took place between St. Petersburg, Florida and Tampa, Florida.
During World War I, aviation technology advanced rapidly as militaries around the world invested in the development of aircraft for reconnaissance and combat purposes. After the war, aviation continued to develop, with commercial airlines expanding and improving their services and military aviation becoming an important component of national defense strategies.
Today, aviation plays a vital role in transportation, commerce, and national defense.
