Science Apply the concept of force and inertia to predict the motion of objects.
Otto Lilienthal studied aerial navigation in Germany for over 20 years. He patterned his designs from large birds. In 1889, he created tables that gave airlift values at varying angles of incidence. Lilienthal broke his neck and died. The Wright Brothers read and discussed Lilienthal's work and thought that shifting the weight of the operator was not the way to maintain balance in a glider.