A History of Aeronautics

E. Charles Vivian's A History of Aeronautics traces the story of flight from ancient dream to modern machine, blending myth, legend, experiment, and engineering into a sweeping history of humanity's effort to conquer the air. From winged chariots, Daedalus and Icarus, Krishna's aerial carriage, and other global legends to the first doubtful mechanical birds and artificial eagles, Vivian shows how imagination and invention have long been entwined in the desire to fly. The narrative then moves into recorded history, following bold and often tragic experiments by figures such as the Saracen flyer, Oliver of Malmesbury, Roger Bacon, Giovanni Battista Danti, and Leonardo da Vinci, whose studies of bird flight, balance, lift, stability, gliding, and landing anticipate modern aeronautics. From there, the book charts the uneven rise of practical aviation, including early gliders, the 1912 British Military Trials, and landmark feats like Audemars' Paris-to-Berlin flight. It also follows the growth of British air power through the Army Air Battalion, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Royal Naval Air Service, highlighting the crucial role of Major-General Sir David Henderson and the rapid development of scout, reconnaissance, and fighting aircraft on the eve of World War I. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.