M Ted - "manned flight and mechanically powered flight"? The Montgolfier brothers were the first European balloonists, yep. First flights of a winged aircraft were Von Lilienthal though, who was a German. And unless I'm *very* mistaken, it was the Wright brothers who were first with powered flight.

What else have the French done for us? Strikes, of every variety. They make Arthur Scargill look like a workaholic...

Graham.