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Engineering Our Dreams

December 17, 1903: The Wright brothers take flight, drama ensues


Published on 2024-12-17 09:42:18 - Popular Science
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  • Today, Wilbur and Orville Wright are as synonymous with the first to achieve powered flight as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are with the first to walk on the moon. But it wasn't always so.

The article from Popular Science discusses the contentious history surrounding the Wright brothers' claim to the first powered, controlled flight. While Orville and Wilbur Wright are widely credited with this achievement on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, their recognition has been challenged by claims from other inventors like Gustave Whitehead, who allegedly flew a powered aircraft in 1901 or 1902. The Smithsonian Institution's agreement with Orville Wright in 1948, which stipulated that the museum would recognize the Wright Flyer as the first airplane if it were to be donated, has fueled debates about historical accuracy and institutional bias. Recent findings, including a photograph purportedly showing Whitehead's aircraft in flight, have reignited discussions about who truly deserves the title of the first to fly. However, skepticism remains due to the lack of conclusive evidence supporting these alternative claims, highlighting the complexities of historical attribution in the annals of aviation history.

Read the Full Popular Science Article at:
[ https://www.popsci.com/technology/wright-brothers-flight-fight/ ]