Did you know that the Wright Brothers were not the first to fly....?

Question

Did you know that the Wright Brothers were not the first to fly in a proper aeroplane. The world’s first aeroplane was designed and built at Brompton, England, a village ten miles west of Scarborough. The name of the man who undertook this task was Sir George Cayley (1773 - 1857) who lived at Brompton Hall. Am I the only one who didn't know this?

Answer 1

There were quite a few people who "flew" before the Wright brothers. Most of these were balloons, dirigibles, and gliders. Some were even kites.

There is one instance that I can find of a manned, powered, heavier-than-air flight before the Wrights' flights. In 1874 --29 years before Wright flew in 1902-- Félix du Temple de la Croix is generally recognized as having designed and built a fixed-wing, manned flying machine. The name pf his pilot, a French sailor, is unknown. The below quote is from Wikipedia, with the site listed in sources below.

" . . that it achieved lift off under its own power after a ski-jump run, glided for a short time and returned safely to the ground, possibly making it the first successful powered flight in history, depending on the definition."

Félix du Temple de la Croix's accomplishment is sometimes ignored for two reasons, the take-off was not achieved on it's own, but was rather was launched down a hill like a ski jump, and on account of its brevity (it was described as a "hop").

Orville Wright is credited with the first manned, powered, heavier-than-air, controlled, sustained flight on December 17, 1903. Both Orville and Wilbur flew twice that day. They took turns, and in each succeeding flight they bettered both the time in the air and the distance flown. The last flight of the day was 852 feet and lasted 59 seconds.

Answer 2

Yes, I knew the Wright Brothers were not the first to fly. But no, I didn't hear it was this man Sir George Cayley. I found out it was Gustave Whitehead, a Bavarian immigrant to the US. He flew on August 14, 1901 near Fairfield, Connecticut. I read it in the book I listed below as a source (quite interesting). Here's the page to look at the story online:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0878331859/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-4555064-9026564#reader-link

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Your right it was John Montgomery in San Diego on August 28, 1883 he also was the man who had the first Patent # 831,173 for the Airplane Issued in 1906. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Montgomery

Many people designed and built models of heavier than air craft
but the Wright Brothers were the first to make a manned flight that was recorded. That's what counts.

Answer 5

Not only that but there is some evidence that Herr G Daimler (or was it Benz) actually made a powered flight before the Wright Brothers.

Answer 6

Kill devil Hills, NC They did their practising there in the past they took their flight at Kitty Hawk NC on 12/17/1903 with the aid of checking of air currents and guidelines to acquire maximum flight distance and countermaintenance.

Answer 7

I think that Wright brothers were the first to achieve powered flight.
Leonardo Da Vinci even had sketches of balloons.

Answer 8

Cayleys was powered by man the wrights was poered externally

Answer 9

Don't forget Gustav Ader. A Frenchman, dammit, whose aircraft was powered with a lightweight steam engine of his own design.

Answer 10

I think Leonardo da Vinci may have a design before this.