megan
why didn't they patent the airplane? because their attorney, one of the finest patent attorneys of the time, told them the best way to protect their invention. It was a legal decision.
AS to the wrights slowing things down in the US, after the patent wars were won, things took off just fine.
And while it is true that in World War 1 our air service was not up to the european standards and we did fly Spads and other planes, we caught up quickly. WAR moves things along quickly and World War 1 had been going for quite awhile before we came in. We tried to stay out of that war.
And then of course ever since then, our planes have been the best. The first plane to fly from North America to Europe was a US plane in 1919.
And simply so many other accomplishments that it would take too long to list. But should I try?
For all practical purposes, the wrights invented the airplane. But that only is true if you mean an airplane that really worked, flew and was controllable. others were also rans. just because something had wings and a prop didn't make it a real airplane. I've seen airplanes with wings and a prop hung from a carnival ride, really what plane was even close to the wrights in 1903 and in the years just after that? There were planes that staggered into the air and slipped around turns with rudders. Or other planes with ailerons that turned terribly because those designers didn't understand what the Wrights understood.
Those "in the know" know the wrights invented the airplane. They have been honored in many ways including a newly planned movie to be made about them.
When TWA got their first constellation airliners , howard hughes went to Dayton, Ohio and took Orville for a ride OUT OF RESPECT for the contribution the wrights made.
I really don't care what the eurocentric defenders think. Their rationale is less than truthful. But they only fool themselves.
Just think of all the movies about cacey, santos dumont, bleriot, curtiss, or langley. Just think about all of the statues and honors to these people that didn't quite figure it out.
So dear euros, go rent, "those magnificent men in their flying machines" and dream of what might have been.