Who famously stated the principles of flight before the scientific understanding of aviation?

Leonardo da Vinci is renowned for his forward-thinking ideas and sketches related to flight long before the establishment of modern scientific principles of aviation. In the late 15th century, he conducted observational studies and created detailed drawings of flying machines, including designs for winged devices and concepts of lift and drag. His work demonstrated an understanding of the mechanics of flight, reflecting an intuitive grasp of the forces involved, even without the formal scientific knowledge that would come centuries later.

While Otto Lilienthal made significant contributions to the development of gliders and the principles of flight through experimentation, and the Wright brothers are credited with the first powered flight, da Vinci's conceptual work laid the groundwork for future aviators. Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, primarily known for his efforts during the American Civil War and his role in ballooning, did not contribute to the early theoretical understanding of flight to the same extent as da Vinci. Thus, Leonardo da Vinci's visionary concepts make him a pivotal figure in the history of flight.