I'll warn you now, this topic might get a touch controversial. Now, this is a question that has been with me since the age of around 12, and I would appreciate any help on it. The first controllable powered flight is almost universally credited to the Wright Brothers. However, whenever I look at write-ups of that first flight, what I find is this: 1) the plane was launched by a 'catapult' (similar system to modern carrier launches, but using a counterweight as power) 2) it flew for less than the length of a Boeing 747 My question is - would the Wright Flyer have made that first flight just as well had the engines been off?
Not likely. The gliders that the Wrights flew while researching wing planforms and control mechanisms weighed around 100 lbs (depending upon which model)not counting the pilot. The powered plane of 1903 had a 200 lb. engine and weighed about 600 lbs without pilot. Insofar as the flight credited with being the first it really doesn't matter. If you don't like that one because of it's length then choose another. The Wrights flew quite a few more increasingly longer flights well before the French flight of 1904 which likely wasn't fully controllable.
I'm with you here - and should have made it clearer - that regardless of the 'first' flight the Wrights followed up with so many others that they still retain the 'prize'. I just had a wonder.
IIRC the first 4 flights in December 1903 were not catapult launched -- they used a single rail track to guide the plane and had bystanders suporting the wings until it generated some lift. Later flights near Dayton (Huffman Prairie?) were catapulted to make the track shorter -- easier to move it for different wind directions. Also, while the first flight was only 120 feet, the final flight was 852 feet. AFAIK they had planned a much longer flight (4 miles) in the afternoon but a stray gust wrecked the aircraft. Tom
It should also be mentioned that the Wright brothers parked everything else during their first appearance in Europe at the Aerodome in Paris. While all other aircraft pretty much flew at their own will and made landings which could be best described as controlled crashes, the Wright Flyer made beautiful turns and a perfect landing.
