Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Including secret codes and silver paint-based 'stealth technology.'

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/december/14/virginias-wright-experience-honors-original-1903-flyer?utm_source=ePilot&utm_medium=Content&utm_content=tts&utm_campaign=161215epilot

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Stealth technology? Radar wasn't even invented until World War II.

machia Loc: NJ

Photographic " stealth " .

BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

Here is an interesting article;

"The Wright Brothers First Flight Wasn't the First Flight

Connecticut flight by Gustave Whitehead was first by more than two years
By Robert Goyer March 14, 2013

"It was in the summer of 1901 that Whitehead flew his airplane, which he called the Condor. In the early hours of 14 August 1901, the Condor propelled itself along the darkened streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut, with Whitehead, his staff and an invited guest in attendance. In the still air of dawn, the Condor's wings were unfolded and it took off from open land at Fairfield, 15 miles from the city, and performed two demonstration sorties. The second was estimated as having covered 1½ miles at a height of 50 feet, during which slight turns in both directions were demonstrated." The length of flight and altitude reached make the Wright's first powered foray pale in comparison.

Jackson credits the long work of aviation researcher John Brown for much of the recently uncovered evidence that Whitehead's flight was indeed number one. Brown's website, www.gustave-whitehead.com, is packed with evidence.

The evidence that Jane's presents is compelling. There are multiple photographs, overwhelming evidence of Whitehead's preparation for the first flight — Condor was the 21st airplane he built — eyewitnesses, dozens of newspaper accounts of the story and ample evidence not only of an engine sufficient for the flight but one whose basic design was used on many subsequent successful airplanes by other designers, including Glenn Curtiss. Moreover, Whitehead made another successful powered flight in an airplane with three-axis controls in 1902, more than a year before the Wright brothers' first flight.

The decision by Jane's is sure to fuel the most controversial discussion in aviation, perhaps ever, as aviation enthusiasts take sides, either with the Wright Brothers, who made history on the North Carolina dunes in December 1903, or Whitehead, who, the evidence now seems to indicate, did the same two-and-a-half years earlier on the quiet streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Look for more on this story, unfolding 112 years after the fact, in the coming days and weeks in Flying and on flyingmag.com."

http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/pilots-adventures-more/wright-brothers-not-first-fly

mdfenton

The article about Gustave Whitehead is 3 1/2 years old. Should we continue to believe that the Wright Bros made the first flight?

BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

I am not trying to take away from the Wright brothers legacy. As a matter of fact they never claimed to be the first to fly.

They went on to develop airplanes further and the understanding of aerodynamics. They also taught others to fly.

"Were the Wright brothers the first to fly a powered aircraft? And if not, what effect would this have on the history of aviation?

The answers are "no" and "none at all."

The Wright brothers never claimed to be the first to fly. In his earliest scientific paper, presented to the Western Society of Engineers in 1901, Wilbur Wright alluded to English inventor Hiram Maxim, who launched a steam-powered biplane with a three-man crew on an unintentional flight in 1894 when a restraining device failed. Both the crew and the aircraft survived in tact, but Maxim never flew it again. Perhaps he realized from his one brief hop that the machine was uncontrollable."

http://www.wright-brothers.org/History_Wing/History_of_the_Airplane/Who_Was_First/Who_Was_First_Intro/Who_Was_First_Intro.htm

mdfenton

Good article, which has an interesting paragraph: "Wilbur and Orville Wright wished to be remembered for making the first controlled and sustained powered flight. Their greatest contribution to aviation was the development of three-axis aerodynamic controls – roll, pitch, and yaw – and the piloting skills needed to use them effectively."

Also: WHO WAS FIRST IN FLIGHT?
Scientific American, January 24, 1914, page 76
Following the end of the legal battle between the Wrights and the Curtiss company, the lead editorial for the issue confirms the Wrights as the first in flight. The editorial does not mention Whitehead (although it does mention other aviation pioneers). The text opens with:
The decision which has been handed down by the Circuit Court of Appeals in the infringement suit brought by the Wright Company settles once and for all, in this country at least, the question: Who invented the flying machine? To be sure, there was never any doubt in the popular mind. Practical achievement counts for so much and paper discussion for so little, that the inventor who rises above the mere theoretical presentation of his ideas is inevitably glorified. The decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals stamps the popular verdict with approval and recognizes Orville and Wilbur Wright as the inventors of the man-carrying, motor-driven aeroplane.

machia Loc: NJ

I've been interested in aviation for over 50 years . As a pilot and an avid reader of everything aviation , from aeronautics to aviation history , the Wrights were the first to fly in a powered and controlled manner . First powered attempt was on Dec 14th , which the other brother won the coin toss . More favorable winds were on the 17th however and controlled powered flight was achieved , not a " hop into the air " , nor a glide .
This was the first controlled , powered and sustained flight ever achieved by man .
And yes the Wrights built on other available aeronautical theory but found it flawed in many areas so they invented the wind tunnel .
Their careful and methodical approach resulted in the first aircraft that finally achieved controlled flight .
Others came close prior to 1903 and even managed to hop into the air , but it was not what the Wrights achieved .

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

The Whitehead claim is a fraud. The claim by the sleazeball and cowardly Curtis an outrageous fraud. BTW, equally idiotic claims have been made by Russia.

mdfenton

We can always rely on the Ruskies

BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

Here is an interesting article:

http://www.flyingmachines.org/maxim.html

mdfenton

Another fascinating bit of history. I liked the line: "The Test-Rig was subsequently used on a number of occasions to raise funds for charities, rather than raising itself. "