Timeline of British military aviation

The following timeline of British military aviation covers the military aviation activities of the British Armed Forces from its origins in the 19th century to the present day: 1863 - Henry Coxwell demonstrates tethered balloon ascents to British Army personnel at Aldershot 1878 - Balloon experiments are conducted at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich 1880 - a balloon section takes part in the Army's manoeuvres at Aldershot 1882 a balloon section takes part again in the Aldershot manoeuvres The Balloon Equipment Store at Woolwich is moved to the School of Military Engineering at Chatham 1882 to 1884 - A balloon factory, depot and training school are established at Chatham 1884 - Three balloons, two officers and 15 other ranks take part in the Bechuanaland Expedition 1885 Balloons are used during the Sudan expedition 1890 The Balloon Section is established as an official unit of the Royal Engineers c. 1894 The balloon factory is moved to south Farnborough 1899 to 1902 Balloons are used in the South African War Balloons used to direct the fire of the British Artillery at Magersfontein Balloons used to direct the fire of the British Artillery at the Battle of Lombard's Kop 1905 The balloon factory is moved to a better site 1906 Samuel Franklin Cody is appointed the balloon school's Chief Instructor in Kiting 1907 The British Army airship, Nulli Secundus, is completed 1908 The first British heavier-than-air military flight takes place when the British Army Aeroplane No.

Source: Wikipedia — Timeline of British military aviation (CC BY-SA 4.0)