972) Otto Lilienthal

Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal (1848 – 1896). German pioneer of aviation who became known as the "flying man". He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful flights with gliders. Newspapers and magazines published photographs of Lilienthal gliding, favorably influencing public and scientific opinion about the possibility of flying machines becoming practical. On 9 August 1896, his glider stalled and he was unable to regain control. Falling from about 15 m (50 ft), he broke his neck and died the next day, 10 August 1896.

- "Imagine, if you will, a curly red-haired athlete built like a fireplug..."  https://books.google.it/books…

- "... broad-shouldered, barrel-chested, with a head of curly red hair, a full beard and mustache..."  https://books.google.it/books…

- "A squarely built figure with red hair and a beard who dressed for his flights in knickers with heavily padded knees..."  https://books.google.it/books…
 
- "... Lilienthal's craft stalled, hurtling the burly, red-headed daredevil to the ground."  https://books.google.it/books…