Aviation History
 

When early aviation pioneers, such as the Wright Brothers and Gustave Whitehead, developed the foundations of powered aircraft technology, did they venture and explore aviation technology simply for pure interest and the challenge which paralleled it or was the society of the time offering a reward or similar to the inventor of the first successful powered aircraft?
Where there some underlying factors to the development of early aircraft, such as commercial purposes?

Also. Does anybody know the name of the 1900's American military officer who did not see the potential of aircraft in combat. He apparently made a quote along the lines of "Aircraft can never be used as an instruement of war"... or similar.

If anybody can answer these questions, I would appreciate to read your view.

Thank you.