<P> He went on to publish the design for a full - size manned glider or "governable parachute" to be launched from a balloon in 1852 and then to construct a version capable of launching from the top of a hill, which carried the first adult aviator across Brompton Dale in 1853 . The identity of the aviator is not known . It has been suggested variously as Cayley's coachman, footman or butler, John Appleby who may have been the coachman or another employee, or even Cayley's grandson George John Cayley . What is known is that he was the first to fly in a glider with distinct wings, fuselage and tail, and featuring inherent stability and pilot - operated controls: the first fully modern and functional heavier - than - air craft . </P> <P> Minor inventions included the rubber - powered motor, which provided a reliable power source for research models . By 1808, he had even re-invented the wheel, devising the tension - spoked wheel in which all compression loads are carried by the rim, allowing a lightweight undercarriage . </P> <P> Drawing directly from Cayley's work, Henson's 1842 design for an aerial steam carriage broke new ground . Henson proposed a 150 feet (46 m) span high - winged monoplane, with a steam engine driving two pusher configuration propellers . Although only a design, (scale models were built in 1843 or 1848 and flew 10 or 130 feet) it was the first in history for a propeller - driven fixed - wing aircraft . Henson and his collaborator John Stringfellow even dreamed of the first Aerial Transit Company . </P> <P> In 1856, Frenchman Jean - Marie Le Bris made the first flight higher than his point of departure, by having his glider "L'Albatros artificiel" pulled by a horse on a beach . He reportedly achieved a height of 100 meters, over a distance of 200 meters . </P>

Who built and flew the first glider capable of carrying a person