Which event marked the beginning of powered flight?

The event that marked the beginning of powered flight is when the Wright brothers successfully flew their powered aircraft known as the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903. This flight was significant because it was the first time a heavier-than-air machine achieved controlled, sustained flight using its own power. The Wright Flyer, piloted by Orville Wright, flew for 12 seconds covering a distance of 120 feet. This accomplishment established the concept of powered, controlled flight, setting the stage for the future of aviation.

While earlier figures such as Sir George Cayley and John Stringfellow made significant contributions to aviation, their experiments did not involve a powered flight in the modern sense, as they either relied on gliding or external propulsion methods. The development of the jet engine also came much later, being a crucial advancement in aviation but not the starting point of powered flight itself. Thus, the Wright brothers' achievement is recognized as the definitive moment that propelled aviation into a new era.