Who invented the first airplane that did not fly?

The first airplane that did not achieve flight is often attributed to Sir George Cayley, who designed a glider in the early 19th century. However, the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, created the first successful powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer, in 1903. Prior to their achievement, various inventors, including Cayley, had developed designs that did not take to the skies, focusing on the principles of flight rather than actual flight capabilities.