[MRM]

As for the airplane, there have been several rival claims for first powered flight. There was a guy in Australia who made a similar claim. Recognition for the first powered flight took a while and was subject to very intense investigation at the time. It took years before the Wright Brothers were universally recognized. There is still some lingering traces of that investigation. Europe recognized the Wright Brothers well before the US, and their Flyer was exhibited in Europe for many years before it was displayed at the Smithsonian. Although it is one of the prize exhibits there, the Wright family refused for many years to allow it to be displayed t the Smithsonian because of hard feelings over their early refusal to recognize the Wright Brothers' claim. Even today the Flyer is merely on loan to the Smithsonian, and could be sent back to Europe upon request.

Anyway, the competing claims have been evaluated closely but the Wright Brothers' claim has stood the test of time. The key appears to be that the Wright brothers were the only ones to have a completely powered flight, taking off from land, showing actual climbing and distance from the propulsion of the engine rather than any gliding. My understanding is that the competing claims all had some element of gliding or non-powered flight that assisted the powered flight. That's my understanding of the debate, I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure.