kite also influenced Leonardo da Vinci When da Vinci was experimenting with the of flight and flying machines in the late 1400s, he used different kite designs wright brothers, who invented the first airplane to fly with a gasoline engine developed an interest in flying when they were children. They used to fly kites. The brothers' historic flight in 19 was made on a plane that was basic principle that lifts But what is the connection between kites and aeronautics? The used kites to study the the kite is the same that keeps the plane in the air. People have principles of flying.