<P> In the 1890s, Lawrence Hargrave conducted research on wing structures and developed a box kite that lifted the weight of a man . His box kite designs were widely adopted . Although he also developed a type of rotary aircraft engine, he did not create and fly a powered fixed - wing aircraft . </P> <P> Between 1867 and 1896 the German pioneer of human aviation Otto Lilienthal developed heavier - than - air flight . He was the first person to make well - documented, repeated, successful gliding flights . </P> <P> Clement Ader constructed his first of three flying machines in 1886, the Éole . It was a bat - like design run by a lightweight steam engine of his own invention, with 4 cylinders developing 20 horsepower (15 kW), driving a four - blade propeller . The engine weighed no more than 4 kg / kW (7 pounds per horsepower). The wings had a span of 14 m (46 ft). All - up weight was 300 kg (650 lb). On 9 October 1890 Ader attempted to fly the Éole . Aviation historians give credit to this effort as a powered take - off and uncontrolled hop of approximately 50 m (160 ft) at a height of approximately 20 cm, (8 in). Ader's two subsequent machines were not documented to have achieved flight . </P> <P> The Wright brothers flights in 1903 are recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the standard setting and record - keeping body for aeronautics, as "the first sustained and controlled heavier - than - air powered flight". By 1905, the Wright Flyer III was capable of fully controllable, stable flight for substantial periods . The Wright brothers credited Otto Lilienthal as a major inspiration for their decision to pursue manned flight . </P>

Who had the first idea of an airplane