<P> Otto Lilienthal ( 23 May 1848 -- 10 August 1896 ) was a German pioneer of aviation who became known as the flying man . He was the first person to make well - documented , repeated , successful flights with unpowered airplanes . Newspapers and magazines published photographs of Lilienthal gliding , favorably influencing public and scientific opinion about the possibility of flying machines becoming practical . On 9 August 1896 , his glider stalled and he was unable to regain control . Falling from about 15 m ( 50 ft ) , he broke his neck and died the next day , 10 August 1896 . </P>
<P> Otto Lilienthal ( 23 May 1848 -- 10 August 1896 ) was a German pioneer of aviation who became known as the flying man . He was the first person to make well - documented , repeated , successful flights with unpowered airplanes . Newspapers and magazines published photographs of Lilienthal gliding , favorably influencing public and scientific opinion about the possibility of flying machines becoming practical . On 9 August 1896 , his glider stalled and he was unable to regain control . Falling from about 15 m ( 50 ft ) , he broke his neck and died the next day , 10 August 1896 . </P>
who worked with manned gliders in the 1890 's
who worked with manned gliders in the 1890 's
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal