A History of Aeronautics

"A History of Aeronautics" by Evelyn Charles Vivian is a recounting of the development of air travel from ancient myths to the very beginnings of aviation in the 20th century. It tells the story of humanity's quest to fly, starting with tales from long ago to the important work of people like Sir George Cayley and the Wright Brothers, explaining how humans achieved flight through machines. The beginning of the book discusses the old stories and real attempts to fly, showing how important dreams and inventions were, and how they shaped people’s understanding of going up into the sky. It offers a wide view of how flying has changed over time, looking at both the old legends and the new science that helped make planes possible.