PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - The Wright brothers just glided in 1903. They flew in 1908.
Old 17th Jun 2014, 20:14
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eetrojan
 
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Well, there are the detailed entries in Orville Wright’s diary of 17 December 1903:

Wright Brothers Information Packet Primary Sources: Orville Wright's December 17, 1903 Diary Entry - Special Collections & Archives - Wright State University Libraries

His diary states that the following five men helped the Wright brothers and, thus, were witnesses to the 17 December 1903 flights:
1. John T. Daniels (a USCG Surfman at the Live-Saving Station at Kill Devil Hills, and the man who operated Wilbur Wright’s camera)
2. Adam Etheridge (another Surfman)
3. Will Dough (another Surfman)
4. W.C. Brinkley, a farmer from nearby Manteo, NC
5. Johnny Moore, a 17-year-old from Nags Head who was visiting the life-saving station

I’m sure you’ll unreasonably jump on the word “only,” but here’s an article from 2003

Only five witnessed Wrights' first flight - Technology & science - Science - Tomorrow's Wright Brothers | NBC News


This article, from the United States Coast Guard site, understandably, focuses on the participation of the Surfmen:

The Indispensable Men: USLSS At Kitty Hawk, December, 1903
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