People

Bessie Coleman

First American citizen to hold a pilots license.

James Doolittle

Racing pilot, aeronautical engineer, military pilot.  Led the famous "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo just months after the start of World War II.  The mission involved launching land-based medium bombers from an aircraft carrier.

Otto Lillienthal

Early pioneer of aviation who made a study of airfoil shapes, and was a great inspiration to many other experimenters.  Built and flew in many gliders of his own design.

John J. Montgomery

Early Pioneer of aviation.  May have been the first with hinged control surfaces on the wings.  Also built and flew in gliders of his own design.

Wright Brothers

Orville and Wilbur Wright were the first to make a powered, controlled flight in an airplane in 1903.  The Wrights had a bicycle manufacturing and sales business.  In 1900 they made a bike called the Van Cleve that cost $35.  In those days a car cost about $800.