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NutmegCT

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David - thanks for the link. I'd never heard of Pearse before.

Take a look at this, another in the "flew before the Wright brothers" stories.


Again, lots of shaky assumptions and holes to poke.

Tom m.
 

PAUL161

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Probably shouldn't say it having a Wright Brothers award, but I believe Gustave did make a short powered flight. Regardless how short of time he was in the air, and the prop's were turning taking the aircraft further than a glider flight, even if only a few feet further, it's powered flight. Been nice if it was filmed. Like who was the first to fly the Atlantic, controversy there also. :smile-new:
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DavidApp

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Very interesting.

Back then just getting it photographed was a challenge let alone on film.

I suppose some would argue that the Wright Brothers invented the control systems that are mostly still in use today. Ailerons rudder and elevator.

David
 

waltesefalcon

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The Wrights didn't use ailerons though, they used wing warping. I believe it was Curtis who invented the aileron. Whether or not they were really the first to make a flight they were certainly the first to make it commercially viable.
 

NutmegCT

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JPSmit

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DrEntropy

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Did a TDY to Kitty Hawk in '73 for the 70th anniversary. Learned then that they made a wind tunnel to test models and that they cast their own engine blocks. First or not, they did some remarkable stuff.
 

PAUL161

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I guess if Icarus didn't fly too close to the sun, he would have been the first to fly! :encouragement: :jester: Ok, I'm just a nut on Greek mythology. :cool-new:

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Gliderman8

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I came across this video on YouTube. These are truly some odd duck planes.

 
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