The Wright brothers just glided in 1903. They flew in 1908.

[simplex1]

After an exchange of letters with the US War Department, the Wright brothers received a clear answer to their attempt to take money from the US government and deliver a plane only after that:

The US Board of Ordnance and Fortification met on October 24 and decided as follows:
"That Messrs. Wright be informed that the Board does not care to formulate any requirements for the performance of a flying machine or take any further action on the subject until a machine is produced which by actual operation is shown to be able to produce horizontal flight and to carry an operator."
Source: Analysis--The True Story of the Wright Brothers Contract

The US War Department wanted to see the most basic horizontal flight possible before taking any further action. The reaction of the US officials was normal as long as no reliable known witness had ever seen a man carrying plane flying.