How long has interest in flying in the skies existed?

Once man flew into space.
Thousands of years.
When the first hot air balloon was flown.
When the Wright Brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk, NC.
World War I.

Interest in flying in the skies has existed for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations that fantasized about flying like birds. However, the modern era of aviation began in the early 20th century with significant milestones such as the first hot air balloon flights, the Wright Brothers' first successful powered flight in 1903, and the development of aircraft during World War I.