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| Connecticut's New License Plate. |
The Wright Brothers were first in manned powered flight. Ohio (specifically Dayton Ohio) makes claim as the Birthplace of Aviation. North Carolina makes claim as the First in Flight. The Wright's aeroplane was designed in Dayton, tested in North Carolina, and eventually mechanically flown there in December of 1903. It was then perfected in Dayton in 1904 and 1905. These historical facts are based on one of the most thoroughly documented inventive processes in the history of the world. Records of engineering calculations, personal diaries, letters of correspondence, fantastic exhaustive photographic records, artifacts, and eye witness accounts of many outstanding reliable citizens attest to the truth and accuracy of the timing and character of the events. Photographic evidence of the flight, "the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started" shows Orville flying with Wilbur running along side. The flight was repeated, four flights total, in front of reliable witnesses, and a telegraph indicating success was sent home that afternoon. Newspapers carried the story the next day, December 18, 1903.
Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Picard in the Star Trek Next Generation series had little to say about the recent discovery, but would not deny that the Ferengi species may not be entirely fictional. When asked if he believed Wilbur Wright had ancestral roots originating back to that alien planet, therefore disqualifying him and his brother Orville to claims of First in Flight, since they obviously cheated using Ferengi wing warping technology, Patrick didn't answer the question.......
Copyright 2025-Getting the Story Wright
Orville, writing to Fred L. Black of The Edison Institute, Dearborn, Michigan, in a letter dated October 19, 1937-
"Dear Mr. Black:
I have not seen the book "Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead", but I did see the story on the same subject printed in "Popular Aviation" of January, 1935, and signed by Stella Randolf and Harvey Phillips.
I have learned through a friend in Washington that Miss Randolph works in a doctor's office in Washington; that she has no particular interest in aviation; that the Harvey Phillips whom she had not know before, induced her to collaborate with him in the preparation of the story.
I suspect that, could it be traced, the idea for the book would be found to have originated in the mind of A. F. Zahm, of whom you already know. He has been quite active in this matter, as I have learned from several sources.
The book is interesting in showing how easy it is, after an interval of 35 years, to get affidavits on matters which are utterly false. Neither Wilbur nor I ever were in Bridgeport until 1909, and then only in passing through on the train.
I believe I told you of the statements of eye-witnesses secured by A. V. Roe to establish his claim to having been the first Englishman to fly. Unfortunately for Roe I had in my possession letters written by himself at the time that proved the statements of his witnesses false. Moore-Brabazom told me that he would have been helpless in refuting these statements, produced twenty-five years after the event, excepting for the evidence which I was able to furnish.
In the case of Whitehead the design of the machine is in itself enough to refute the statements that the machine flew.
Have you seen the article in the N.A.A. Magazine of December, 1936, by Professor John B. Crane, who made some investigation of the Randolph story and interviewed some of the alleged eye-witnesses?
I am hoping to get my work here cleared up enough before long so that I can make the postponed visit to Greenfield Village.
Thanking you for the photostats of the affidavits in Stella Randolph's book, I am
Sincerely yours,
Orville Wright
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