Piloting the Kitty Hawk, Orville Wright traveled 120 feet in 12 seconds. According to the Wright brothers, although they had been interested in flying since youth, their interest was rekindled upon hearing about Lilienthal s death. After the Wright brothers historic flight, it did not take long for aircraft to become sophisticated and commonplace. Only 21 years later, the first flight around the world was completed. In 1947, the first piloted supersonic airplane flight took place.
Astronauts continue to break new aeronautic barriers.
However, all of this has come at a cost. The death of Lilienthal was not the only tragedy to befall early aviators. In 1785, two people were fatally injured in an attempt to cross the English Channel by balloon. And, in 1937, the Hindenburg explosion left 36 dead. Even the first airplane pilot, Orville Wright, was a victim of an aircraft injury.