BS: First powered flight - the right answer!

Subject: BS: First powered flight - the right answer!
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Dec 25 - 10:00 AM

Right answer, not wrong!
Oh dear. Maybe this should be under folk lore (urban legends) - or myth-busting (for the use of).

But I always cited George Cayley (Wiki) as the first, but he never got past the glider stage. Neither did Eilmer of Malmesbury (Wiki) in the 11??C and was an old man in, notably, 1066.

But I find John Stringellow (Wiki) got there in 1848 with steam power. Now - he never got more airborne than a 747's wingspan but (Sorry USA) neither did Wilber or Orville, at first.

And like the Wright Brothers, Eilmer and George Cayley he experimented with gliders first.

lights fuse and retires

Subject: RE: BS: First powered flight - the right answer!
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Dec 25 - 02:12 PM

I don't care who was first, as long as whatever powered flight I'm on isn't my last.

Subject: RE: BS: First powered flight - the right answer!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 30 Dec 25 - 10:20 AM

Sorry Mr Red. Can't agree with you on this one.
Your premise requires a much longer description. The Wright Brothers are credited with the first manned, powered flight of a 'heavier than air' craft.
The Stringfellow flight was not manned, so not the same concept.

And . . .
If you don't include the 'heavier than air' restriction then the Montgolfiers were successful in an earlier century: Montgolfier