Commissioned in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight. The airplane is a system comprising aspects of aerodynamics, propulsion, flight dynamics, and structures. This book outlines the history of the technical development of the airplane. Richly illustrated, it moves the reader through time beginning with Leonardo da Vinci and forward to the present. In each chronological period, the various aspects of the synthesis of aerodynamics, propulsion, flight dynamics, and structures to the design of flying machines is described and critically evaluated.