Otto Lilienthal






Otto Lilienthal (23 May 1848 – 10 August 1896), the German "Glider King," was a pioneer of human aviation. He was the first person to make repeated successful gliding flights. He followed an experimental approach first established earlier in the century by George Cayley.
He met and inspired the efforts of Percy Pilcher
On 9 August 1896, however, he fell from a height of 17 m (56 ft), breaking his spine. He died the next day, saying, "Kleine Opfer müssen gebracht werden!" ("Small sacrifices must be made!") and was buried in a distinct grave at Lankwitz public cemetery in Berlin.