Final answer:
John Duigan was the first to achieve a controlled, powered flight in Australia in 1910, following the foundational work of the Wright brothers in the early 1900s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first man to make a controlled, powered flight in Australia was John Duigan. In 1910, John Duigan successfully completed a controlled powered flight in a plane he and his brother Reginald built on their family's farm. This achievement was remarkable during an era when the feasibility of air travel was still in question, even with pioneers such as Orville and Wilbur Wright making significant advancements in flight technology.
The Wright brothers' research into controlled flight, culminating in their historic flight in 1903, laid the groundwork for future aviators like John Duigan. They focused on developing the ability to control an aircraft, as well as on designing wings that provided sufficient lift. This approach ultimately allowed for the continued innovation in aviation technology, leading to modern aircraft such as the Boeing 777.