Since the Greek campaigns and diplomatic intercourse that started rightly after the death of Alexander, history of India although not in a professional manner but more or less effectively was recorded by several Greek, Chinese and Arab chroniclers. Before that period, from the coins, trade seals and cuneiform inscriptions, we get a very vague but modest idea about the trade and commercial intercourse between Indus civilization with the other contemporary civilization in the near west like the Mesopotamian, Sumerian and Egyptians almost five thousand years ago.
The earliest written documentation of the Aryan life (i.e Rg Veda) does not mention any such of aviation technology to be used by the early settlers on the bank of river Sindhu. The first mention of such technology that with every possibility born with the writer's imagination can be traced in the epics. Historians struggle to date these epics and puranas, but they were written much latter, perhaps between 100 BCE to 200 CE. And remind you, epics are not history. Just like Iliad they are mythological stories devoid of any scientific/ archaeological backings.
So, we cannot with any sanguinity on the basis of such imaginative works say that we invented any such flying mechanism. The procedure to build one aeroplane based upon the theories as stated in Vaimanika Shastra has already proven to be an infeasible and impractical design by Indian scientists only. It violates every explained principle of physics and aerodynamics. Mere a television programme on National Geographic does not bolster its credibility at all.
In my opinion, we should give our ancestors the credit that is due and they truly deserve (Mathematics, astronomy and Ayurveda) ; Except that this kind of unnecessary exaggeration about their works brings more amusement than respect.