Without doubt the most significant milestone in aviation history, the first powered fight, celebrates its 90th anniversary this month. Some nine decades of aviation development and evolution have now passed since Orville Wright piloted the Wright Flyer on the world's first heavier than air powered fight from Kitty Hawk on December 17 1903. This full size replica at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC ilustrates just how flimsy and fragile the very first aircraft was, and serves as a reminder of and a tribute to all those pioneers who have toled to make aviation the safe, fast and efficient form of transport it is today. On its first fight the Wright Flyer covered a distance of just 38.5m, (about the length of the interior of a modem day 7471) powered by a purpose built engine delivering 12hp that was actually designed and built by the Wright brothers themselves. A humble beginning for one of the world's greatest high tech industries. (Paul Merritt)