On 4 Jul 2003 19:23:23 -0700, (robert arndt) wrote
in Message-Id: :

It probably helped that the Wrights pressured the US to declare their
aircraft the first in order to recieve their permission to display
their aircraft in the US

Actually, Orville Wright prevented the Smithsonian from displaying the
original Flyer until after his death, IIRC. It was on display in
London until then.

The Germans had Lilienthal's gliders

Not to disparage the accomplishments of Otto Lilienthal, but it was
the inaccuracies of his airfoil data that led the Wrights to build
their wind tunnel, IIRC.

And for airmen throughout the world, such as the Columbia crew,
Lilienthal's last words still ring true: "Sacrifices must be made."