Complex sentence: The only surviving source describing the event is a 17th century collection of reports by the historian al-Maqqari, making this the first attempt at heavier-than-air flight in aviation history backed by a contemporary documentary source.
Split into simpler sentences: The only surviving source describing the event is a 17th century collection of reports by the historian al-Maqqari. This is the first attempt at heavier-than-air flight in aviation history backed by a contemporary documentary source.