Otto Lilienthal flying close to the hill he built for that purpose (Fliegeberg) Mechanical engineer Otto Lilienthal (1848–1896) started building flying machines in 1874. In 1891 he managed to make the first successful gliding flight in history. Three years later he had a nearly 60-meter artificial hill built in Lichterfelde, where he practiced his flights. This hill, in Berlin area, has now a memorial with his name (built in 1932).

Otto Lilienthal flying close to the hill he built for that purpose (Fliegeberg)
Mechanical engineer Otto Lilienthal (1848–1896) started building flying machines in 1874. In 1891 he managed to make the first successful gliding flight in history. Three years later he had a nearly 60-meter artificial hill built in Lichterfelde, where he practiced his flights. This hill, in Berlin area, has now a memorial with his name (built in 1932).