To those nieces and nephews who are under the impression that 2003 marks the centenary of powered, controlled flight, I have some sobering news. Nephew Ibrahim Dashti has unearthed evidence (via Yahoo) that air travel was popular as far back as the 1600s.According to a recent report: "In Catania, almost destroyed in an eruption in 1669, schools and the airport were closed due to thick ash and residents donned surgical masks and umbrellas before heading into the streets."
Source: Flight International