Wright Bros, 1903

Orville and Wilbur Wright were the first two Americans who are generally credited with inventing and building the world's first sucessful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903. Two years later, they developed  their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft.

This development of the airplane, was then a breakthrough invention of the three axis control, which enabled them to control/steer the aircraft effectively. As the Wright Bros. gained knowledge of basic machanical skills through working on bicycles, motors and printing press. They believed that an unstable vehicle like flying machine could be controlled and balanced with practice. For many of years, they conducted extensive tests to develop their skills as pilots.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers

http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

Lauren Bray