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Pioneering aviators: While Santos Dumont was flying in front of the public in France, the Wright brothers were testing their invention in secret in the United States. The dispute continues
The dispute over who invented the airplane still divides opinions. For many Brazilians, the name of Santos Dumont is synonymous with pioneering. In the United States, the Wright brothers are remembered as the creators of the first flying machine. This historical controversy involves dates, testimonies and different definitions of what constitutes controlled flight.
Santos Dumont's first flights
Even before his famous flight with the 14-bis, Santos Dumont was already well-known. In 1901, he stood out with his motorized dirigible balloons. His experiments in Paris attracted attention. He was always looking for new ways to fly. His interest in flight was public and documented.
The 14-bis and the achievement validated in Paris
In 1906, he performed a remarkable feat. With the 14-bis, he flew 60 meters in Paris. The event was officially validated and witnessed. It was the first time that an aircraft took off under its own power in front of a public audience.
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This achievement earned Dumont an important place in the history of aviation. Many consider him to be the first person to make a controlled and public flight.
The Demoiselle and the vision for the future
But he didn't stop there. In 1907, he introduced the Demoiselle. This model is considered one of the first ultralights in history.
With it, Dumont showed that his vision went beyond a single flight. He thought about how to make aviation accessible, practical and lighter. He was a persistent inventor, always looking to the future of technology.
4. The Wright Brothers' Flight and Technical Innovation
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Wright brothers were following their own path. In 1903, they flew a machine that needed outside help to take off.
The feat took place without official witnesses, which generated distrust at the time. Despite this, many historians credit them as the inventors of the airplane.
The Wright family's strength was technical. They created a system that allowed flight to be controlled on three axes. This was fundamental to the development of modern aviation. Even with doubts about the first flight, they continued to innovate. Their designs evolved and helped define what would come next.
A historic dispute that remains open
The debate about who was the true inventor depends on the criteria. If the requirement is public validation, Santos Dumont appears to have an advantage. If the focus is on technical innovation, the Wright brothers stand out. Each side presents solid arguments.
There are still other names in the debate. Clément Ader, for example, made an unstable flight in 1897. His contribution is remembered, but the machine's performance was limited. This shows that the race to conquer the sky had several protagonists.
The debate remains alive. Santos Dumont and the Wright brothers are central figures in this story. Both contributed decisively to the emergence of aviation. Their inventions and achievements continue to be celebrated to this day.
The last relevant piece of information is that, even after more than a century, this historic dispute continues to fuel studies, tributes and discussions around the world.
With information from Correio Braziliense.
Congratulations on the Theme! The USA despises Santos Dumont, the world hero of the time, a true pioneer of heavier than air! SANTOS DUMONT, ETERNAL PACIFIST!
If launching a **** with a catapult means saying that “the **** is capable of flying”, then it was the Americans who invented the airplane…
That's the difference. Los brothers Write said that they volaron. There are not enough tests or testimonies. Sólo Santos Dumont was worried that he was flying. Santos Dumont is the first persona in history and we fly like we do today. As the phrase says, "You can deceive the whole world at any time. You can deceive at some time. But you cannot deceive the whole world at all times." The truth could remain hidden for many years, but it could not be destroyed.
Santos Dumont did not need to “catapult” the plane to make it fly. The 14-Biz was proof of that. Furthermore, the man from Minas Gerais made a point of recording, filming (at that time the first video cameras were being developed), documenting, and making the press aware of his achievements. Dumont perfected the watch, creating a wristwatch version. Meanwhile, the Wright brothers did not even want to show their inventions to the public. So much so that the aviation race took place in a competition in Paris. The brothers did not even show their invention. Dumont gave several demonstrations, including one near the Eiffel Tower. There is no arguing with facts.