Otto Lilienthal

Hello! My name is Otto Lilienthal. A long time ago, in the year 1848, I was born. When I was a little boy, my favorite thing to do was watch the birds. I would lie in the grass and look up at the big blue sky. I especially loved watching the big storks soar through the air. They would stretch out their giant wings and just float on the wind. It looked so peaceful and fun. I dreamed that one day, I could be up there with them. I wished I could fly just like a bird.

I thought about the birds all the time. If a bird can fly with wings, maybe I can too! So, in the year 1891, I decided to build my very own pair of wings. I found strong, light wood to make the frame. Then, I covered the wooden frame with a special, strong cloth. When I was finished, my wings looked like giant bird wings. They were bigger than me. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to take them outside and try them out. I hoped I could catch the wind and fly away.

I carried my new wings to a tall, grassy hill. I took a deep breath, ran as fast as I could, and jumped into the air. And guess what? It worked. I flew. I glided gently through the air, just like the storks I loved to watch. It was so much fun. People saw me flying and called me the 'Flying Man.' I was one of the very first people to fly like a bird. I showed everyone that flying was possible. My work helped other clever people build the first airplanes. I lived to be 48 years old. People remember me for helping the world learn how to fly.