Gustave Whitehead - First in Flight?

Neither the Smithsonian Institution or its successors, nor any museum or other agency, bureau or facilities administered for the United States of America by the Smithsonian Institution or its successors shall publish or permit to be displayed a statement or label in connection with or in respect of any aircraft model or design of earlier date than the Wright Aeroplane of 1903, claiming in effect that such aircraft was capable of carrying a man under its own power in controlled flight." Failure to observe this condition by the Smithsonian would result in a return of the "Flyer" to the vendors, according to paragraph 4 of the contract.

Those who know me are aware that i tend to be quite the scientific sceptic. I remain convinced, however, that the Wright Brothers were not the first to develop powered flight. Amongst the numerous claims made, i judge Gustave Whitehead to be the most likely contender. You can read the sources i did and judge for yourself:

• Gustave Whitehead's Flying Machine
• Gustave Whitehead and the First-Flight Controversy from The History Net
• The "Who Flew First" Debate at FlightJournal

back to al's home page