On October 9, 1890, French engineer Clément Ader made the first manned, powered, heavier-than-air flight in his steam-engine aircraft, the Éole, which lifted off and 'hopped' about 50 meters at a height of a few inches above the ground. Though the flight was not sustained or controlled, it was a significant step toward the goal of powered, controlled flight. Ader's work demonstrated the feasibility of a steam-powered heavier-than-air craft.

This event, while still a hop rather than a sustained flight, signaled the imminent realization of a dream that had been explored in science fiction and poetry throughout the 19th century. It was a spark of hope that human flight could be achieved by individuals and engineers, not just a product of nature or myth. The nascent aviation movement became a symbol of human will, which was a common theme in French symbolist poetry.