Cayley, George (1773–1857)

English aviation pioneer, inventor of the first piloted glider 1853, and the caterpillar tractor. Succeeded as 6th baronet 1792.

Cayley was born in Brompton, Yorkshire. In later life he helped to found London's Regent Street Polytechnic.

Cayley spent much of his life experimenting with kites and gliders, but also worked on other aspects of flight, including helicopters, streamlining, parachutes, and the idea of biplanes and triplanes. The 1853 glider was a triplane, in which his reluctant coach driver travelled 275 m/900 ft across a small valley – the first recorded flight by a person in an aircraft. Although delighted with the result, Cayley realized that control of flight could not be achieved until a lightweight engine was developed to give the thrust and lift required.