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Wright Brothers vs. Smithsonian: The Bitter Feud Over Who Invented the Airplane
Rival claims to the first powered flight milestone put the Wright Flyer against the "Aerodrome," a plane built by then-Smithsonian boss, Samuel P. Langley. By 1928 Orville Wright was so incensed by the ongoing lack of official recognition that he sent the original Wright Flyer to the UK national science museum, where it stayed (underground) until the end of WWII. (www.seattletimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
The story is interesting but contains a factual error. The Wright Flyer never taxied. It had no wheels. It launched from a rail.
It is also interesting that Langley spent on the order of $70,000 (in 1903 money) government funds on his work, and the Wright brothers spent a meager $2,500 of their own cash. Of course the wright brothers built their own engine, devised the first wind-tunnel, and gave us wing warping for control of attitude included with the first flight. It's not even close in my book.
I still like the Wright brothers for really making the 1st long flying airplane.
They like many inventors perfected other inventors' ideas.
Mr. Edison got the filament perfected.
They like many inventors perfected other inventors' ideas.
Mr. Edison got the filament perfected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Swan#Electric_light
Wasn't Jolly old St. Nick around before any of these folks?
Ooh, controversy, isn't his sleigh a towed vehicle? Does that class it as a glider?ð
Reindeer powered.