[There's a nod, and he glances toward the ceiling, as if there might be some sneaky airplane lurking around near the rafters as they speak.]

That is precisely correct. Built by particularly innovative humans, who studied the flight of birds until they could replicate it.

[Launching into the stars is definitely more impressive just on a base level, though...]

--I suppose we have all seen our share of the impossible, by now. "Humans will visit the moon someday" does feel a little dwarfed when traveling planet to planet is so normal for so many.