In Episode 8 of MGA, we take a look at the incredible field of Aviation. The story of aviation is about the mechanics, the pilots, the inventors and the thrill seekers. It's the story of ingenuity and perseverance, of a dream that refused to die. The early years of the 20th century were a time of discovery and wonder in the world of aviation. People watched in awe as pilots entered a domain previously reserved for birds. Though there were many failed attempts, and let downs in the process, pioneer aviators refused to quit and kept going at a dream that has now allowed us to access parts of the world never believed possible. It was only a matter of time before mankind was able to spread it's wings and launch into the sky. Ignoring the naysayer's, they risked their lives to bring us the magic of flight. A French sea captain who experimented with gliders in the mid 19th century wrote: 'In spite of me it drew forward into the wind, notwithstanding my resistance it tended to rise. Thus I have discovered the secret of the bird and I comprehend the whole mystery of flying.' There have been endless incredible people contributing their lives to the field of aviation over the years, but perhaps none more significant than Wilbur and Orville - The Wright brothers. On the 23rd of March 1903 they applied for a patent for their 'Flying Machine'. The biggest problem was finding an engine light enough for the glider. None of the manufacturers the Wrights contacted were able to make one to their specifications. So the brothers decided to make their own. Their shop mechanic Charlie Taylor took just six weeks to build the lightweight aluminium design. On the 17th of December 1903, they put their powered glider to the test. At the Smithsonian Institution, an inscription says of the pair: 'By original scientific research the Wright brothers discovered the principles of human flight as inventors, builders, and flyers they further developed the aeroplane, taught man to fly, and opened the era of aviation.'
