In the earlier years a few individuals really stood out in the development of aerodynamics. This handful of men contributed to what our current knowledge of aerodynamics is; from the pure concept of flight to complicated theories in fluid dynamics.

• Leonardo Da Vinci - A conceptual genius, famous for his artistic talents, drew many sketches of flying machines.
• Sir Issac Newton - This father of calculus postulated the Three Laws of Motion.
• Sir George Cayley - The first man to build a successful glider, he is commonly referred to as the Father of Aerodynamics.
• Otto Lilienthal - Lilienthal made over 2,500 successful flights on his glider, quickly attaining world-wide fame.
• Samuel Langley - One of the first Americans to secure a government loan, he built unmanned aerodomes.
• The Wright Brothers - Unexpectedly, these two brothers showed the world that man could conquer the air.
• Ludwig Prandtl - Modeled physical phenomena into clear mathematical form, Prandtl created the theory of boundary layers.
• Quiz - Test your knowledge on these pioneers.

Continue on to learn about the fascinating figures in the development of modern aerodynamics.