Aviation history is full of outsize characters. But few are as colourful or as interesting as Brazilian pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. Born to a wealthy coffee planting family, young Alberto dreamed of emulating the birds in flight. His dreams became reality when he moved to the exciting, vivid world of turn-of-the-century Paris. First building balloons, then airships, then ultimately aeroplanes, he steadily developed his understanding of flight, becoming one of the most celebrated men in the world and challenging the Wright Brothers through his achievements. In Part One of this two-part series, we trace Alberto's early life and career, from growing up on his father's coffee plantation through his first experiments with balloons and airships, with some bumpy moments along the way.