Otto Lilienthal gliding experiment. Otto Lilienthal (1848-1896) was a pioneer of human aviation, whose work heavily influenced later aeronautical engineers such as the Wright brothers. After graduation from the trade school at Potsdam and the Berlin Trade Academy, Lilienthal experimented with flying models with flapping wings and wing gliders. His book on bird flight and his essays on flying machines were recognised as basic works in aeronautics. From an artificial hill near Lichterfelde he made more than 2000 flights in the monoplane and biplane gliders he designed. He died after his craft crashed in flight near Rhinow, Germany. Photographed in 1895 or 1896.