Wright brothers inspiration

May 23, 2014 GW Administrator NEWS 4

OttoLilienthal

German aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal would have been 166. years old today. He was born May 23rd 1848 in Anklam, Pomerania Province, German kingdom of Prussia. With his fundamental research on birds and airfoils, he founded the science of wing aerodynamics and lay the foundations for concepts we still employ today. Both his research and his successful flights between 1891 and 1896 inspired the Wright brothers. And the rest is history.

4 Comments

  1. Lilienthal’s student, Gustav Weisskopf (Gustave Whitehead) of Leutershausen, Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1893, is the true inventor of the airplane, recognized by Jane’s All the World Aircraft. In the years 1897-1902, Weisskopf succeeded in developing and flying powered airplanes using the Lilienthal wing and design. His first sustained, powered flight was on August 14, 1901 in Fairfield, CT, USA, thus beating the Wrights into the air by two years, four months, and three days. There is extensive documentation that conclusively proves Weisskopf is the inventor of the airplane, conducted by researchers Stella Randolph (3 years) and William J. O’Dwyer (for 45 years). There is no authenticated photo of Weisskopf in powered flight, despite mistaken proclamations last year – the photos known to have existed have been lost. No photo is necessary, with 18 witnesses to flights before the Wrights. Leutershausen, Germany has the world’s only Gustav Weisskopf museum, founded by Maj. O’Dwyer. It is well worth visiting. Germany should be proud of its son, Gustav, who developed the airplane and taught the other inventors how to fly. I have been closely involved in Whitehead research since 1963, as I am the daughter of Maj. O’Dwyer. German World Magazine should be celebrating Weisskopf’s birthday (Jan. 1, 1874) and his first sustained flight (Aug. 14, 1901) in future issues. Visit http://www.gustavewhitehead.info to view the history and authenticated research findings.

  2. Lilienthal’s student, Gustav Weisskopf (Gustave Whitehead) of Leutershausen, Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1893, is the true inventor of the airplane, recognized by Jane’s All the World Aircraft. In the years 1897-1902, Weisskopf succeeded in developing and flying powered airplanes using the Lilienthal wing and design. His first sustained, powered flight was on August 14, 1901 in Fairfield, CT, USA, thus beating the Wrights into the air by two years, four months, and three days. There is extensive documentation that conclusively proves Weisskopf is the inventor of the airplane, conducted by researchers Stella Randolph (3 years) and William J. O’Dwyer (for 45 years). There is no authenticated photo of Weisskopf in powered flight, despite mistaken proclamations last year – the photos known to have existed have been lost. No photo is necessary, with 18 witnesses to flights before the Wrights. Leutershausen, Germany has the world’s only Gustav Weisskopf museum, founded by Maj. O’Dwyer. It is well worth visiting. Germany should be proud of its son, Gustav, who developed the airplane and taught the other inventors how to fly. I have been closely involved in Whitehead research since 1963, as I am the daughter of Maj. O’Dwyer. German World Magazine should be celebrating Weisskopf’s birthday (Jan. 1, 1874) and his first sustained flight (Aug. 14, 1901) in future issues. Visit http://www.gustavewhitehead.info to view the history and authenticated research findings.

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