I'm in absolute agreement with Carroll's latest comments. The definition of "who flew first" is largely dictated by assigned ( and popular) criteria, some of which are applied retrospectively.
There were a range of pioneers and institutions who ,internationally, were contributing to the evolution of a practicable aeroplane . The tipping point came around the turn of the 20th century with structural and aerodynamic (including propeller) knowledge coming together and combining with increasingly efficient engines.
I don't think that the absence of any single source of input over that period would have seriously delayed the overall evolution toward a useful aeroplane . Which is NOT a dig at the Wrights , whose contribution was enormous.
In defence of the B.E. 2c, do remember that it first flew pre-war and it was committed to mass production primarily as an observation machine, before the concept of air-to-air combat was generally appreciated.
The impact of such combat , particularly of course the Fokker monoplanes whose machine gun interrupter gear combined with aerial fighting tactics developed by such as Immelman, arrived almost a year and a half after the commencement of hostilities.
Such attacks, usually from the stern against unarmed, or poorly armed, B.E. types ( with their observer then in the front cockpit and unable to usefully defend the 2 seater) led to the "Fokker Fodder" appellation.
Certainly the comparative lack of maneuverability of the B.E.'s also contributed to a huge and often fatal disadvantage for the type from then on.
As is well known, that situation continued to escalate up to a political scandal as the war developed.
Last edited by Haraka; 21st Jul 2015 at 11:07.