Draft:Who flew first
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[[Category:AfC submissions by date/<0031Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000202676 2026-07-05T18:57:00+00:00Sundaypm0000=error>EpSun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000UTC00005720267 UTCSun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +00002026Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000: 17832778207Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000UTC2026-07-05T18:57:00+00:0020266757185UTC05 pu72026-07-05T18:57:00+00:0031upm315720267 2026-07-05T18:57:00+00:0006pmSun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000pm2026-07-05T18:57:00+00:0031UTCSun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000 &qu202631;:&qu202631;.</0031Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:57:00 +0000202676>July 2026|Who flew first]]
Who flew first
[edit]The question of who flew first has been debated for more than a century. Much of the disagreement arises from the fact that the term “flight” is used to describe several different phenomena, including buoyant ascent, gliding, short powered hops, and controlled sustained powered flight. Published aviation histories present early flight milestones separately, describing buoyant ascent, gliding, short powered hops, and sustained powered flight as distinct flight events achieved by different pioneers with different machines.
Definitions of Flight
Lighter‑than‑air buoyant ascent
A flight in which a lighter‑than‑air vehicle becomes airborne through buoyant lift generated by heated air or gas, without powered propulsion or aerodynamic control surfaces.
Example (1783): This category is generally attributed to the Montgolfier brothers, whose hot‑air balloon ascents began in June–November 1783.[1]
Lighter‑than‑air powered controlled flight A flight in which a lighter‑than‑air vehicle is supported by buoyant lift and uses powered propulsion and aerodynamic control surfaces to maneuver, maintain heading, and perform sustained, repeatable flight.
Example (1900): This category is generally attributed to Ferdinand von Zeppelin, whose LZ 1 made its first powered controlled flight on 2 July 1900.[2]
Controlled glider flight A heavier‑than‑air flight using aerodynamic lift with intentional control of pitch and roll, typically achieved through weight shift or limited aerodynamic surfaces.
Example (1891–1896): This category is generally attributed to Otto Lilienthal, whose controlled glider flights were conducted between 1891 and 1896.[3]
Sustained glider flight A heavier‑than‑air flight in which a glider remains airborne for an extended period using aerodynamic lift, typically through ridge lift or thermals, and demonstrates controlled manoeuvres such as turns or figure‑eight patterns.
Example (1921): Willi Pelzner achieved a documented 38‑minute flight at the 1921 Rhön gliding competition on the Wasserkuppe, for which he received the first prize.[4] Period reports also describe Pelzner performing controlled turns and figure‑eight manoeuvres in his lightweight monoplane glider.[5]
Powered hop flight A heavier‑than‑air powered lift‑off in which an aircraft rises briefly from the ground under engine power but does not achieve sustained, measured, or repeatable powered flight.
Example (1901): Several witnesses later reported that on 14 August 1901, Gustave Whitehead made a brief powered lift‑off in his No. 21 monoplane in Fairfield, Connecticut.[6][7] These accounts describe the aircraft rising under power before descending, but no published source provides a measured duration or distance for the event. Whitehead’s No. 21 was reported to use a 20‑hp acetylene engine driving two propellers, and contemporary descriptions noted its monoplane configuration and lightweight construction.[6][8] Modern historical surveys state that no confirmed photograph of the aircraft in powered flight survives.[9][10] Aviation historians differ in their assessments of the witness accounts.[11][12]
Controlled sustained powered flight (heavier‑than‑air) A heavier‑than‑air flight using aerodynamic lift, powered propulsion, and a three‑axis control system to achieve sustained, repeatable, and fully controlled powered flight.
Example (1903): On 17 December 1903 at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, the Wright brothers made four powered flights using the 1903 Wright Flyer.[13] The first flight, piloted by Orville Wright, lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet.[13] Under modern flight‑test practice, such an initial lift‑off would be classified as a test flight, as it represented the aircraft’s first experimental departure from the ground. The fourth and longest flight, piloted by Wilbur Wright, remained airborne for 59 seconds and covered 852 feet.[13] The Flyer used a three‑axis aerodynamic control system consisting of wing‑warping for roll, a forward elevator for pitch, and a rear rudder for yaw.[13] Contemporary accounts and surviving photographs document all four flights.[13]
Human spaceflight A flight in which a crewed vehicle travels above the Kármán line (100 km), operates outside the atmosphere, and follows a ballistic or orbital trajectory using rocket propulsion.
Example (1961): This category is generally attributed to Yuri Gagarin, whose orbital flight aboard Vostok 1 occurred on 12 April 1961.[14]
Why Disagreements Occur
Disagreements about “who flew first” arise because different historical and technical definitions of flight refer to different categories of achievement.
When the definition changes, the “first” changes with it.
If “flight” means navigating space outside Earth’s atmosphere Example (1961): Yuri Gagarin was first, completing the world’s first crewed orbital flight aboard Vostok 1 on 12 April 1961.[14]
If “flight” means soaring — controlled, maneuvered, unpowered flight Example (1921): Willi Pelzner demonstrated sustained soaring at the 1921 Rhön gliding competition, including a documented 38‑minute flight and controlled figure‑eight manoeuvres.[4][5]
If “flight” means three‑axis controlled, sustained, powered flight Example (1903): The Wright brothers achieved the first sustained, controlled, powered flights on 17 December 1903, using a three‑axis aerodynamic control system.[13]
If “flight” means any short powered lift‑off Example (1901): Gustave Whitehead has been proposed as an early example based on witness reports of a brief powered lift‑off on 14 August 1901, though no measured duration or distance is published.[6][7]
If “flight” means controlled lighter‑than‑air powered flight Example (1900): Ferdinand von Zeppelin demonstrated powered, controlled airship flight with LZ 1 on 2 July 1900.[2]
If “flight” means controlled gliding Example (1891–1896): Otto Lilienthal conducted the first documented controlled glider flights beginning in 1891.[3]
If “flight” means any form of ascent Example (1783): The Montgolfier brothers achieved the earliest documented human ascent in 1783 using buoyant lift from heated air.[1]
| Category | Pioneer | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powered human lift | Montgolfier brothers | 1783 | Greene, G. (2022). "Montgolfier Brothers". EBSCO History Reference Center. |
| Controlled glider flight | Otto Lilienthal | 1891–1896 | "Otto Lilienthal – Der Flugpionier". DLR. |
| Sustained glider flight | Willi Pelzner | 1921 | Pelzner, W. (1920). "Segelflugversuche am Hang". Flugsport. / "Rhön Competition Report". Flight. 8 September 1921. |
| Powered hop | Gustave Whitehead | 1901–1902 | "Frühe Motorflugversuche". DLR. / Randolph, J. "Whitehead Witness Accounts". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) |
| Controlled sustained powered flight | Wright Brothers | 1903 | Greene, G. (2022). "Wright Brothers". EBSCO History Reference Center. |
| Human spaceflight | Yuri Gagarin | 1961 | "Vostok 1 Mission Overview". NASA. |
References
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