| A | B |
| Developed first known principles of flight. | Otto Lilienthal |
| Invented the hot air balloon. | Thaddeus S. C. Lowe |
| First human passengers flew on their balloon. | Laurenco deGusmano |
| Organized Balloon Signal Service of the Union Army. | Wright brothers |
| First successful rigid dirigible. | Montgolfier brothers |
| “Father of Modern Aviation.” | Leonardo da Vinci |
| First success in controlled, powered and sustained flight. | Ferdinand von Zepplin |