Flying dragons have fascinated people for centuries. Big or small, fierce or friendly, they’ve featured in legends from all around the world. Some breathe fire. Others bring good luck. And all of them capture the imagination. Here are eight of the most exciting flying dragons from stories and myths, ready to take you on a sky-high adventure.

1. Smaug

Smaug is a greedy, fire-breathing dragon who lives in a mountain filled with gold. He’s clever, sneaky and not very friendly. Smaug is plucky little Bilbo Baggins’ ultimate foe in The Hobbit and comes from the imagination of writer JRR Tolkien. He’s appeared in numerous books and movies, making him one of the most famous mythical creatures and beasts of all time.

2. Lung

In Chinese mythology, Lung is a kind, wise dragon who controls rain and water, and flies through the clouds with long whiskers and a twisting, snake-like body. Unlike many Western dragons, Lung isn’t evil or scary; people see him as a symbol of strength and good luck.

3. Fáfnir

According to Norse legend, Fáfnir was once a greedy dwarf, who turned into a fearsome dragon to guard his treasure. In Viking tales, he’s a classic example of the mythical beast – powerful, angry and full of fire. A brave hero named Sigurð eventually defeats him.

4. Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl translates to "Feathered Serpent", which means this colourful dragon has feathers instead of scales. He’s a god in Aztec mythology, often linked with the wind and sky. He doesn’t breathe fire, but he does fly across the heavens, helping people and sharing wisdom.

5. Hungarian Horntail

If you’ve read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, you’ll know all about this one. The Hungarian Horntail is fierce, spiky and fast. It’s one of the most dangerous dragons in the magical world, and Harry faces it in a heart-stopping flying challenge.

6. The Colchian Dragon

The Colchian Dragon is a fearsome winged serpent that guards the golden fleece in Greek mythology. Powerful and sleepless, it was said to be immortal, but succumbed to the magic and potions of Medea, enabling Jason to retrieve the fleece.

7. Haku

Haku is a river spirit who can transform into a flying dragon. He has a long body, smooth white scales and a magical presence. In the movie Spirited Away, Haku helps the main character escape danger, demonstrating that not all dragons are scary.

8. The dragon, Beowulf

In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Beowulf’s final battle is with a dragon that flies and breathes fire. This dragon (who is not given a name) was key to the later representations of dragons in the West and introduces the idea of a dragonslayer to English literature. Although Beowulf slays the dragon he is severely wounded and later dies.

These dragons are just a few of the amazing mythical creatures found in stories across the world. Whether you're reading books, watching movies or seeing exciting dragon shows, they remind us to dream big and conquer our fears.

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