One hundred years ago on December 17^th, two brothers took to the skies and launched a century of aviation innovation.  This commemorative series brought to you by Microsoft Flight Simulator explores the planes behind aviation�s greatest eras.

The ultra-sleek twin-engine, two-person Dehavilland Comet was built in 1934 for the England to Australia Mac Robertson Air Race.  Built for speed, the comet was a dramatic looking streamliner.  Discussing the Comet is world-renowned stunt pilot, Patty Wagstaff:

�I think it�s interesting because it was made completely of wood and it had this really long nose and it also had these really thin, sort of sleek wings that gave it speed and that�s exactly why it was designed that way.�

Interested in flying the Dehavilland Comet - but don�t have your pilot�s license?  Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 offers virtual pilots the chance to get into the cockpit of the Comet or 23 other aircraft:

�It�s really cool, because you can get in the cockpit and you can fly this airplane, but what Microsoft does beyond that is they give some historical perspective to the aircraft and they give information about the plane.  So it�s more than just getting in and flying the plane you can really understand what you�re flying, why it�s important, why it�s significant, you know, historically significant.  I think it makes the whole experience more enriching.�