Published his classic book Progress in Flying Machines in 1894.
Began to search for automatic flight control in 1896 by designing and building a series of gliders which flew successfully.
Visited the Wright Brothers in 1901 and encouraged them in their gliding experiments, typifying his role as a collector and disseminator of aeronautical information and demonstrating his faith in the ultimate success of man to achieve powered flight.
Made Europe aware of the success of the Wright Brothers.