1804 First flight by a fixed wing unmanned model glider; performed by George Cayley in Yorkshire, England.

1848 First powered flight by an unmanned aircraft; performed by John Stringfellow with his 12-foot wingspan model Aerial Steam Carriage at Chard, England.

2 May 1857 Flight by a powered, unmanned aircraft, by Du Temple in France.

May 1898 First public demonstration of radio-control applied to a moving vehicle; performed by Nikola Tesla with his Telautomaton RC boat in New York's Madison Square Garden.

7 January 1918 First production contract awarded for an unmanned aircraft; awarded by the U.S. Army to the Dayton Wright Airplane Company for 25 Liberty Eagles.

6 March 1918 First successful flight of a powered, full-size, unmanned aircraft; performed by the Curtiss Sperry Aerial Torpedo (based on the Curtiss Speed Scout design), which flew 1000 yd before landing and being recovered off Copiague, Long Island, New York.

4 October 1918 First successful flight by a production unmanned aircraft; performed by the Dayton Wright Liberty Eagle from Dayton's South Field to near Xenia, Ohio.

1922 First launch of an unmanned aircraft (RAE 1921 Target) from an aircraft carrier (HMS Argus).

3 September 1924 First successful flight by radio controlled unmanned aircraft without a safety pilot onboard; performed by the British RAE 1921 Target 1921, which flew 39 minutes.

1933 First use of an unmanned aircraft as a target drone; performed by a Fairey Queen for gunnery practice by the British...