First in Flight

On one of Cristina's first visits to Chapel Hill, we were walking through the parking lot of the office building where I worked when she noticed the North Carolina license plates with the expression, "First in Flight."  This of course referred to the Wright brothers historic first flight which occurred on December 17, 1903 (114 years ago today) in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  Not only North Carolinians, but all Americans proudly acknowledge this historic scientific breakthrough, by Americans.  

However, Cristina was aghast because all Brazilians believe that Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian, was the true aviator who was "First in Flight."  His first flight occurred in Paris, France on October 23, 1906, almost three years after the Wright brothers.  So, why do Brazilians believe that Santos-Dumont was "First in Flight" and not the Wright brothers?

Orville and Wilbur Wright were originally from Dayton, Ohio and engaged in experiments to develop a flying machine.  As such, they moved to Kitty Hawk (on the Atlantic coast) in 1900 because of its "regular breezes and soft sandy landing surface."

On the historic day, the two Wright brothers "made two flights each from level ground into a freezing headwind gust to 27 miles per hour (43 km/hour)."  Orville, going first, flew 120 feet (37 meters) in 12 seconds at a speed of 6.8 miles per hour (10.9 km/hour).  Their plane flew about 10 feet (3 meters) above the ground.

When Santos-Dumont was 18 years-old, his family moved from Brazil, where he was born, to France, as his father, who was of French descent, needed medical treatment.  

Santos-Dumont, who had also engaged in experiments with flying machines, "finally succeeded in flying a heavier-than-air aircraft...before a large crowd of witnesses...for a distance of 60 meters (197 feet) at a height of 5 meters (16 feet)."
     
So, what is the difference between what the Wright brothers did in 1903 and what Santos-Dumont accomplished three years later?  The Wright brothers airplane did not take off on its own.  They used a "launching rail" to get their plane into the air.  On the other hand, Santos-Dumont's airplane got off the ground on its own.  Does that take off difference matter in deciding who is the real "First in Flight?"  Maybe it depends on whether you are American or Brazilian.