113th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers!

[scotty100368]

The birthday of documented powered flight!

(Although there was some conjecture that the Frenchies beat them to it by a couple of years, there's no concrete proof of it)

Apparently by entering the Smithsonian Institute, you agree to recognise the Wright Brothers as the true pioneers...

Scott.

[tor lives]

The birthday of documented powered flight!

(Although there was some conjecture that the Frenchies beat them to it by a couple of years, there's no concrete proof of it)

Apparently by entering the Smithsonian Institute, you agree to recognise the Wright Brothers as the true pioneers...

Scott.

However there is absolutely no doubt that the French invented the first military aircraft with reverse gear as a standard feature.
TOR

[scotty100368]

Must have been where the Italians got the idea for their tanks!

Scott.

[Ansett A330]

Obviously there are no French or Italian ACAMers.

[tor lives]

Obviously there are no French or Italian ACAMers.

Meh....it is what it is.
TOR

[Wedgetail]

Mmmm....you have to admit though, the French have made some very nice aircraft, Mirage and Raphael just to name a couple of military jobs. I'm sure there are others in the civil market.
Italy's specialty is motor cycles, works of art on two wheels, I still rue the day I sold my Ducati. Not to mention about having to hand back a Moto Guzzi as well.
Wayne.

[tor lives]

you have to admit though, the French have made some very nice aircraft, Mirage and Raphael just to name a couple of military jobs. I'm sure there are others in the civil market..

Yep......I am happy to acknowledge that the French have built some of the prettiest aeroplanes in history. Concorde and the Dassault range of Falcon Biz Jets come immediately to mind.
TOR

[Adam the Akrodude]

There was a interesting program recently on ABC discussing the possibility of Gustav Whitehead flying before the Wrights. The facts remain though that the Wrights did a much better job documenting their flights with extensive research and photos. I think without a doubt the Wrights were the first to fly a fully controllable in 3 axis powered aeroplane. Where I think the Wrights failed was post this event trying to lock down and patent their designs and research. The Wrights received a lot of research material from others for free. They were just smart enough (well in fact genius) to put it all together. This fighting in US courts held back US aviation and allowed aviation in Europe to leap ahead.

http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/who-flew-first-290750/