Today in 1896, the most significant pre-Wright aeronautical experimenter and glider pioneer, Otto Lilienthal, dies from a broken spine caused by a crash.

Today in 1921, Lt. John A. Macready marked the beginning of modern crop dusting when he made the first aerial dusting application with a modified Curtiss JN-6 “Super Jenny” over caterpillar-infested trees in Ohio.

Today in 1909, the first test flights of the world’s first military airplane began. The U.S. Army paid the Wright brothers $25,000 for the Wright Military Flyer.

Today in 1939, the Heinkel He 176 took its first flight in Germany and became the world’s first all-liquid fueled rocket-propelled aircraft.

Today in 1938, Douglas Corrigan crosses the Atlantic receiving national attention because the press was amazed his rattletrap aircraft survived the journey.