Illustrate two inventors using intricate, early flying machines, soaring through a cloudy sky, in a style inspired by Edward Gorey. Use detailed cross-hatching to convey the textures of their clothing and the mechanical complexity of their wooden flying devices, adding depth and a vintage feel to the scene. Design the characters with simplified yet expressive forms, emphasizing a stoic and emotionless demeanor. Keep the background minimal, with soft clouds and a distant horizon, allowing the focus to remain on the inventors and their machines. Include faint, schematic-style sketches of additional inventions in the background as symbolic motifs, evoking a sense of ambition and wonder.