Were They the First? Wilbur and Orville were pioneers in aviation who achieved great success and deserve acclaim, but it seems that anyone who questions the claims made on their behalf is considered ignorant, or worse. Although there are records of the time that show what really happened, the popular version as taught to school children seems to have been accepted by even aviation professionals. These brothers, talented as they undoubtedly were, did not wake …showed first 75 words of 1074 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1074 total…Photograph. Although it is only fair that the Wrights should be given a great deal of credit for their success, even to the point of popular acceptance of their claim to be the "first", serious aviation scholars (aren't we all?) should keep an open mind. In this way we give homage to those other, mostly ignored pioneers, whose work and sacrifice, and even their failures, made possible the success of the Wrights on December 17th 1903.