If anyone should be interested in the facts about the Wright Brothers, and the date etc surrounding their first flights, I highly recommend the book "No Longer an Island - Britain and the Wright Brothers 1902 - 1909", written by an American, Alfred Gollin, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who is regarded as one of the most talented historians of his generation. A scholarly treatise and heavily footnoted.
The fact that the Brothers had flown on the date claimed was advertised quite widely by certain media outlets, including Europe and Britain.The British in particular had taken a great interest in aviation development, and had established contact with the Wrights when they were at the gliding experiment stage. News of their powered flight reached them in January 1904. It's all in the book, and leaves no doubt whatsoever as to the facts of 17 December, 1903.
Last edited by Brian Abraham; 5th Jun 2014 at 09:20.
Reason: date!!!