Happy National Aerospace Day!

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

http://www.aia-aerospace.org/national_aerospace_day

:lol:

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:02 pm

I guess it would make too much sence to hold it on the date of the first flight

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:50 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

I guess it would make too much sence to hold it on the date of the first flight

Actually, they're about a month late. :wink:

"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustav Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile." Stella Randolph, The Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead

Connecticut -- First in Flight

Dan (the still slightly rabid)

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:07 pm

if that was the case, where is the proof ? never heard of him, and had it been true, how come he never came forward after the Wrights ?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:45 pm

Dan K wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

I guess it would make too much sence to hold it on the date of the first flight

Actually, they're about a month late. :wink:

"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustav Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile." Stella Randolph, The Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead

Connecticut -- First in Flight

Dan (the still slightly rabid)

Texas has Connecticut beat...
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... fbr63.html
:wink:

Does that mean the Connecticut folks are trying to con us?

Ryan

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:00 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

if that was the case, where is the proof ? never heard of him, and had it been true, how come he never came forward after the Wrights ?

Matt, you have some reading to do!

After a little research, I don't think there will be much doubt in your mind as to Weisskopf's/Whitehead's achievements. One of his flights in 1902 was observed and written up by a newspaper reporter (in Bridgeport I believe).

Orville Wright agreed to allow the Wright Flyer to be displayed in the Smithsonian ONLY if they agreed to forever recognize Wilbur and him as being first. If the Smithsonian ever publicly acknowledges anyone other than the Wrights as being first they will legally lose the right to display the Flyer.

The Wrights were about profit and recognition. Weisskopf was a homebuilder and tinkerer. Even the Wrights recognized that his engine designs were ahead of theirs. In fact, they made several unpublicized visits to his shop well before their 1903 flight.

Time to give Weisskopf his due. The Smithsonian won't budge.

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:01 pm

RyanShort1 wrote:

Dan K wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

I guess it would make too much sence to hold it on the date of the first flight

Actually, they're about a month late. :wink:

"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustav Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile." Stella Randolph, The Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead

Connecticut -- First in Flight

Dan (the still slightly rabid)

Texas has Connecticut beat...
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... fbr63.html
:wink:

Does that mean the Connecticut folks are trying to con us?

Ryan

Doh! You got me, Ryan!

Don't get me wrong--the Wrights accomplished a great deal. They just weren't first. No more than CY was first through the sound barrier. This isn't revisionism; just getting the facts straight.

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:25 pm

Remember, the Smithsonian pushed Dr. Langley as THE pioneer aviator for years. After the Wright's successful flight, they hired Glenn Curtis to rebuild the Langley bird so that it would eventually fly -- barely.

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:34 pm

RyanShort1 wrote:

Dan K wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

I guess it would make too much sence to hold it on the date of the first flight

Actually, they're about a month late. :wink:

"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustav Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile." Stella Randolph, The Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead

Connecticut -- First in Flight

Dan (the still slightly rabid)

Texas has Connecticut beat...
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... fbr63.html
:wink:

Does that mean the Connecticut folks are trying to con us?

Ryan

HA! HA!

The key is "successful" first flight. A destroyed aircraft as a landing regimen is a bit lacking. Points to
Brodbeck for trying. :wink:

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:40 pm

Dan K wrote:

RyanShort1 wrote:

Dan K wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

I guess it would make too much sence to hold it on the date of the first flight

Actually, they're about a month late. :wink:

"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustav Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile." Stella Randolph, The Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead

Connecticut -- First in Flight

Dan (the still slightly rabid)

Texas has Connecticut beat...
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... fbr63.html
:wink:

Does that mean the Connecticut folks are trying to con us?

Ryan

Doh! You got me, Ryan!

Don't get me wrong--the Wrights accomplished a great deal. They just weren't first. No more than CY was first through the sound barrier. This isn't revisionism; just getting the facts straight.

Long live the legend of Whitehead! The great debate! But I bet every state has some local legend.

Warbird Information Exchange

Happy National Aerospace Day!

Who is online