Their flight was the culmination of a long development of flying machines which properly stated with George Cayley in the UK who was the first to appreciate birds flew due to the shape of their wings and not because of flapping.
Not because of flapping?! I do not belieave George Cayley could have said such an enormity. Maybe he said "not
only because of flapping" which is something totally different.
The problem with flight was power and 19th century experiments with steam engines produced powered short hops with one 3hp powered aircraft achieving an altitude of 6 inches.
It would be curious to read a few more details about that mysterious plane. Was it a heavier than air
man carrying flying machine?