From the first hot air balloons to military supercraft, trace the evolution of technology's hottest topic - man's never ending quest to fly. A host of famous flying machines throughout history show how inventors and engineers have developed and improved on technology to make aircraft such an important part of human history. This book also dissects some major developments, such as the jet engine and wing shapes and also explains what happens in a sonic boom and how thrust, gravity lift and weight are all crucial to flight to give a rounded picture of these amazing machines. Technology Timelines is a series of six book aimed at upper KS2 and early KS3 readers, tracing the development of specific technologies through the ages.