Sorry guys, but the Wright Brothers were very definitely
second at best.
Richard Pearse flew in his completely home built aeroplane 400 yards or so, on 31-3-1902. The plane took off under its own power, no catapult.
In June 1903, he took off next to a dry-ish river bed, turned left over the river - out of ground effect - then turned right to follow the river. The plane kept flying until the engine overheated, resulting in a flight about 1,000 yards long.
Read all about it here - <a href="http://www.billzilla.org/pearce.htm" target="_blank">www.billzilla.org/pearce.htm</a>