Archytas was an ancient Greek philosopher who was known for inventing what is believed to be the first ever self-propelled flying device, known as the “flying pigeon.” The body of the pigeon was hollow with a cylindrical shape and had wings on either side.
The rear of the pigeon had an opening that was connected to a heated, airtight boiler, which created more and more steam as it heated, eventually causing the machine to take flight.