Posted on 08/06/2016 7:07:00 AM PDT by SMGFan
First In Flight.
We worked out our differences with Ohio on the phrase long ago. Connecticut tried and failed to claim it. Now its Brazil
During the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio on Friday, a portion of the program featured the exploits of Alberto Santos-Dumont, who piloted a heavier-than-air machine in 1906.
Brazilians say that his achievement in the 14 BIS was the first to take off on its own without the aid of wind, and therefore should be credited as the first airplane flight.
But we Outer Bankers know thats just a bunch of hot air.
Due to NBCs contract with the Olympics, we are not allowed to share the actual video from the ceremony. The hosts kind of laughed it off for the most part.
(Excerpt) Read more at outerbanksvoice.com ...
I agree, and saw about 5 minutes of it, nothing but athletes with their selfie sticks in their own faces.
Having visited Brazil (more than once) I can assure everyone that Brazilians can just barely get out of their own way,let alone be pioneers in aviation.
One thing the Wright bros. had almost from the beginning was CONTROLLED powered flight, i.e., being able to steer up and down, left and right, when other rivals were just projectiles.
Even 5 years later, in 1908, no one could rival them when Wilbur demonstrated the ability to turn his airplane at will all over the skies of Europe:
https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/age/1908/europe.cfm
The Alberto Santos-Dumont (ASD) claim reminds me of the old time Soviet Union and its incessant claims for having done this and that first. The original Star Trek had great fun with this by having Chekov making similar claims.
What I love for this Rio 2016 claim is that the NBC narrators had the (provided) notes that the Wright Brothers’ flights were ‘unconfirmed’ whilst ASD flew his “14-bis” (’-bis’ means version, thus 14th version) in front of crowds in Paris in 1906! The fact that there were observers and photographs and even newspaper stories is immaterial to the local fans of ASD, a Brazilian aristocrat, as the Wrights had no publicity machine, nor did they want one at that time.
Nothing here should take away ASD’s very real accomplishments in aviation. Before his aeroplane, he worked extensively with blimps and dirigibles. He did the “14-bis” from his own research and tests, and it was the first powered flight for height and distance in Europe!
Exactly - that Brazilian guy never controlled that ‘projectile’ ... I think the story went that it gained maybe a few feet altitude then came right back down, it sort of bounced its way down the field.
Long ago I made a stopover in Rio on my way home from South Africa.I got friendly with a Canadian doctor on the plane so we hung out together for a day or two there.It was Carnival so we went to watch the festivities that evening.Dave had a nice camera and,while watching the parades go by,a punk came up to him,punched him in the face and took his camera.He didn't bother me and fortunately Dave wasn't seriously hurt...but he lost an expensive camera.
And we won't take any risks with her return flight, either:
+1
Ohio is the ‘Birthplace of Aviators’
We have the brains, the Outer Banks have the breeze.
Ohio-Armpit of the Midwest
Toledo-Gateway to the Armpit of the Midwest
Forgive me, I’m from Michigan
I spent a number of years working near Huffman Prairie, as I was going to and from I never failed to look over at the field where the first Master pilot was born. It seems flight training was born in Dayton, Ohio. Wilbur made the first 360 degree turns here and practiced this over and over again in this small portion of the Prairie until he had mastered it.
Charles E. Taylor: The Man Aviation History Almost Forgot https://dljh1964.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/charles-e-taylor-the-man-aviation-history-almost-forgot/
An interesting read about a serial killer connection:
http://recordherald.com/opinion/8529/wilbur-wright-and-the-hockey-stick
Yeah !!!
Why? Because we want to liberate her from her slave rags? Because we want to treat her better than hubby's "Love Goat"?
I feel unsafe with her in the US ..... GTFO !
LOL.
Gifts are for the grateful.
Thank you, but that is from the always-good Ricky Vaughan Twitter page. Not my work.
USA won the first gold, yes!!!!!!!
BTW, OBX is beautiful...
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