The first humans to fly were Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent on November 21, 1783, in a hot air balloon.
While George Cayley contributed significantly to aviation by designing gliders, he did not make the first manned flight. De Rozier and Laurent achieved the first documented instance of humans flying in a lighter-than-air craft.
Here's a table summarizing the key figures:
Person | Contribution | First Manned Flight? |
---|---|---|
Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier & Francois Laurent | First manned hot air balloon flight | Yes |
George Cayley | Designed gliders | No |
Therefore, while Cayley's work laid the groundwork, Pilatre de Rozier and Laurent were the first humans to actually fly.