The world’s first becoming airborne in a heavier-than-air powered aircraft was not the Wright Brothers in December 1903 but probably New Zealander Richard Pearse some 8 or 9 months earlier. With further development the Wrights did then go to sustained, fully controlled flight in 1904/5. Come see how Pearse did it. Hope you enjoy. Cheers.
Nice video, but a warning that Greg from Greg’s Airplanes and Automobiles is willing to fight over this point 
I think this might be the first of Frank’s MSFS video threads to get traction. So, first, congrats for that. But yeah a very unhealthy drinking game could have been made back then from all the claims that were nothing more than claims.
Granted, it’s better than the assertion that Alberto Santos-Dumont was the first with 14bis, despite the Wrights having demonstrated, publicly, before 14bis ever took flight.
Personally, I think his achievements with lighter than air flight were way cooler.
A light and powerful engine has always seemed to be the most critical part to me - and given they designed their own engines it makes sense to me that the Wrights and Pearse probably have a better claim to being “first”.
But being the first to do it in front of a crowd is a different kind of genius…
The Wikipedia is an interesting game of historical telephone. From the description of Pearse’s flight it didn’t sound particularly controlled. I’m surprised he wouldn’t have written the flight, date, and results/ideas in a log or diary somewhere.
As a Kiwi. I think we can give this one to the Wright Brothers.
After all, the US did take Russell Crowe off our hands (via Australia) 
He may have been trying to make an aeroplane he could actually fly around in, not just a glider that hopped a bit further, and didn’t consider the hops a success.
But the lack of information does make the Wright’s claim more convincing as “first”, though it doesn’t belittle the achievements of any of these early pioneers in my eyes 
We really need to stop doing that. 
Interesting read concerning this debate.
