[TomEd]

Thanks for the recommendation. This is the first time I've heard of Curtiss validating Langley's work. Yes, I ordered that book, and look forward to reading it.

Let me recommend All Blood Runs Red, about the heroic life of Eugene Bullard. One issue discussed was how much progress in aviation happened in France, since American progress was hamstrung by the legal shenanigans of the Bishop's Boys.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Blood-Runs-Red-Bullard_Boxer/dp/133501666X/

[Chad C. Mulligan]

Yeah, the Wrights were furious. The whole thing reads like a spy novel at times. Even Henry Ford got involved, on Curtiss’ side. In the late ‘20s the federal government stepped in to force a settlement on the Wrights, which is why there is a Curtiss-Wright Corporation making all sorts of defense stuff today.

Curtiss was a real genius. He invented all sorts of stuff, and almost never bothered with patents. My personal favorite Curtiss invention is the motorcycle twistgrip for throttle control.