Since time immemorial people have gazed at the skies and dreamed of seeing the world from high, as birds do.

But for the daredevils who tried this very thing, we would perhaps still envy birds today. In the centuries that have passed since the first naive experiments with birds’ wings, people have progressed through gliders and craft that remain airborne for a few minutes only to ultramodern supersonic jet planes. It is a long story – and one with a happy ending.