Here is a collection of historic patents from the early 20th century showing how aspiring inventors predicted that humans would fly and that monkeys may choose to ride greyhounds one day. Above: A 1889 patent by Reuben Spalding to allow a person to fly via the aid of a balloon and bird-like wings. It is not known whether a full scale version was ever made (I wonder why?) Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Credit : SPL / Barcroft Media